UPSC DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS

2018 April Month Daily Current Affairs

30^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

CAN India manufacture its own commercial aircraft?

News in detail:

Yes if we does the following:

1) continuous government support.

2)large funding in R&D.

3)Global partners.

Brazil started its Embrear programme in 1980’s and now the results are impressive. If Brazil can why India can’t.

Hindusthan Aeronautics limited had not progressed well in this sector.

Despite heavy competition from Boeing and Airbus the countries such as Japan, China, Sweden had succeeded in it.

It is estimated that India needs 6000 aircrafts by 2050. Already Indian carriers had ordered 1000 planes estimated 10 lakh crore rupees leading to drain of foreign exchange.if it manufactured inj India it will also create lots of Jobs.

Some experts are saying that before going for manufacturing aircraft we should develop Better MRO facilities. Even Iran had an better supplier of components than India. Currently Mahendra and Tata which is involved in this sector.

Source: the hindhu

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Did all villages have been electrified in India?

Why in news?

PM Modi tweeted that all villages in India had been electrified.

News in detail:

The announcement had created huge controversy.

Pradhan Mantri Sahaj Bijli Har Ghar Yojana (Saubhagya), aimed at covering the last-mile connectivity of taking electricity to the household level. The target for the scheme is March 31, 2019.

The Saubhagya scheme defines the electrification of a household as including a service line cable, energy meter, and single point wiring.

For unelectrified households in remote areas, electrification will involve the provision of power packs of 200 to 300 W (with battery bank) with a maximum of 5 LED lights, 1 DC Fan, and 1 DC power plug.

According to the definition, in place since October 1997, a village is deemed to be electrified if basic infrastructure such as a distribution transformer and distribution lines are in place in the inhabited locality, electricity is provided to public places like schools, panchayat office, health centres, dispensaries, community centres, and at least 10% of the households in the village are electrified.

The definition created the controversy so govt had decided to provide electricity to all village households.

SOURCE: The hindhu

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What is the difference between an antidumping duty, countervailing duty and safeguard tariff?

ANTI DUMPING DUTY

If a company exports a product at a price lower than the price it normally charges on its own home market, it is said to be “dumping” the product.

Anti-Dumping Duty is a trade levy imposed by any government on imported products which have prices less than their fair normal values in their domestic market.

1) Anti-Dumping Duty is imposed under the multilateral World Trade Organisation(WTO) regime and varies from product to product and from country to country.

2) In India, anti-dumping duty is recommended by the Union Ministry of Commerce(i.e. by Directorate General of Anti-dumping & Allied Duties (DGAD)), while the Union Finance Ministry imposes it.

So far, India has initiated maximum anti-dumping cases against “below-cost” imports from China.

But the issue is, The Indian Steel Association (ISA) has asked the Central Government not to impose any anti-dumping duty on Metallurgical Coke (met coke). A levy of anti-dumping duty on met coke will have a cost-push effect on the steel sector. It will fuel further the cost of steel making, resulting in an increase in the cost of finished steel.

COUNTERVAILING DUTY

Countervailing duties (CVDs), also known as anti-subsidy duties, are trade import duties imposed under World Trade Organization (WTO) rules to neutralize the negative effects of subsidies.

1) They are imposed after an investigation finds that a foreign country subsidizes its exports, injuring domestic producers in the importing country.

2) It is imposed in accordance with the GATT Article VI and the GATT Agreement on Subsidies and Countervailing Measures.

SAFEGUARD TARIFF

A WTO member may restrict imports of a product temporarily (take “safeguard” actions) if its domestic industry is injured or threatened with injury caused by a surge in imports.

1) It is tariff barrier imposed by government on the commodities to ensure that imports in excessive quantities do not harm the domestic industry.

2) It is mainly temporary measure undertaken by government in defence of the domestic industry which is harmed or has potential threat getting harmed due to sudden cheap surge in imports.

3) When imposed, a safeguard measure should be applied only to the extent necessary to prevent or remedy serious injury and to help the industry concerned to adjust.

4) A safeguard measure should not last more than four years, although this can be extended up to eight years, subject to a determination by competent national authorities that the measure is needed and that there is evidence the industry is adjusting.

Source: Investopedia

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FACTS:

1) India and Pakisthan for the first time since independence will take part in war games together along with other SCO members in Ural mountains of Russia as part of major counter terror exercise. China dominated group is seen as an counterweight to NATO.

2) Swatch bharat summer internship 2018:

The scheme provides certain task to college students when he/she completes the task will get the two credit points by UGC.

3) Kavinder Gupta replaced Nirmal Singh as deputy CM of Jammu and Kashmir.

4) National nutrition council rejected the proposal of the Women and Child development Minister to provide factory made food instead of traditional anganwadi made foods.

5) department of school education and literacy which oversees the primary, secondary and higher tsecondary education which comes under Ministry of Human Resource and Development(MHRD).

Likewise ministry of Ministry of Higher education looks after the higher education in India which also comes under MHRD.

The university is said to be deemed means it will have an complete autonomy from making syllabus to fixing fees. The status is granted by Ministry of Higher Education on the advice of UGC.

Tamilnadu has highest number of deemed universities in India.

1) Electricity reached all Indian villages by April 29 says Modi. When he came to power there were about 18,452 villages were not electrified but the milesStone had been achieved 12 before the 1000 day deadline set up by Modi in 2015.

2) Mr. Pompeo on his visit to Gulf countries said that USA will quit Iran nuclear deal if the talks between European allies does not do enough to make sure that Iran never possess Nuclear weapons.

3) As part of good gesture North korea had changed the time zone similar to south. Earlier the time zone was 30 minute behind the south korea. USA’s National security advisor John Bolten said North korea should follow Libya model where Libya had give up its Nuclear weapon programme. But after that world knows how the regime had been thrown out by western strikes.

4) Pakisthan removes Chief proseecuter in 26/11 case as he was not going in a “government set line”.

5) Pakistan is among the 8 countries which are at risk of debt trap. OBOR initiative by China stretched over 68 countries with an investment of $8 trillion. Different interest rates by different Chinese banks to different projects in different countries. For example some projects under OBOR in Pakistan had got interest free loans but the other projects such as Ethoipia-Djoubuti railway line with an 2-2.5% of interest rate. And some projects may go higher with an higher interest rate of even 5%. The report released by center for Global development.

6) RBI draws flak from several quarters over its decision by directing the banks to start restructuring even if there is one day delay in payment of due. Answering criticism RBI deputy governor said that the culture of delaying payment have to change. Niti aayog and several PSB’s have said that this move is “impractical”. This move will also affect the MSME sector badly.

China had reduced NPA from 30% to just SINGLE digit is achieved mainly because of the management bandwidth to extract value from a bad asset.

1) RBI had issued circular earlier this month which says that all system providers like PAYTM should ensure that all data relating to payment systems operated by them should be stored only in India. PAYTM group had requested the government to ask all existing as well as new players to comply with this rule. The group is talking about Whatsapp which soon going to lauch the payment services but the customer data is currently stored in SERVER of USA.

2) Foreign fund flows was lowest since 2011 attributed to the following reasons they are higher interest rate in USA which investors might that of earning higher revenue, uncertainity in crude oil prices, fear of Inflation, General election results resulted in this very lower inflow of 4,600 crore through FPI.

3) French president macron called on Putin after his talks with Trump and apprised about the talks.

European countries who are part of the deal want the deal intact. Unlike trump wants an amendment to the bill or scrap the bill.

1) Secretary of state Mr.Pompeo had embarked his visit to gulf countries and pledged his support to “two state solution” and he also called Palestenians for political dialogue.

2) the next 15^thpravasi bharathiya divas to be held in Varanasi. It will be attended by PM Modi and Mauritian counterpart. The theme of the event was “Role of Indian Diaspora in building a New India”

3) eighteen polling stations in Karnataka will be printed in Pink colour. In these stations all staff including guard will be women. The excersise is to encourage women voters to cast their vote.

GOBAR-DHAN SCHEME:

Union Minister for Drinking Water and Sanitation, Sushri Uma Bharti, today launched the GOBAR (Galvanizing Organic Bio-Agro Resources - DHAN scheme at the National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Auditorium, Karnal in the presence of the Chief Minister of Haryana, Shri Manohar Lal Khattar. The scheme aims to positively impact village cleanliness and generate wealth and energy from cattle and organic waste. The scheme also aims at creating new rural livelihood opportunities and enhancing income for farmers and other rural people.

29^thApril 2018 Daily Current Affairs

28^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

Khadi: A silent, transformational force in an aspirational India

Key pointers:

1) The Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC) has chalked out ambitious plans to double the sales of khadi to Rs. 5,000 crore in the next two financial years.

2) KVIC has planned to open khadi outlets to promote the products in global markets.

3) KVIC has also signed an MoU with NIFT for better design development and training at different khadi institutions.

4) In an aspirational India, khadi has emerged a silent, transformational force. It is also a major job creator in Bharat, that is rural India.

5) The low-profile, handspun cloth has seen its demand grow among the common people and the corporate world, suddenly witnessing a 34 per cent sales growth.

6) The average growth of production in the khadi sector was only 6.24 per cent in the decade 2004-14, which has risen to 26.43 per cent in 2015

Source: the hindhu

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India-China hostility- Undermining their own interests

Background:

Competition-cooperation-discord is an often-evoked term typology that reflects the contradictory nature of the India-China relationship.
Last year witnessed all these facets play out:

1) India’s critique of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

2) India’s entry into the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.

3) The dramatic crisis in Doklam on the northern frontiers.

4) The acceleration of multilateral cooperation in the BRICS format and attempts to foster economic engagement.

Build-up of negativity:

The main reason has been a systematic build-up of negative images of how each side viewed the other’s foreign policies along with a collapse in geopolitical trust.

1) For India, China’s attempt to raise its economic and political profile in the subcontinent was seen as an encroachment on, and an affront to, Indian authority in the neighbourhood.

2) For China, India’s pursuit of deeper military engagement with the former’s main strategic rivals — the U.S. and Japan — was viewed as a serious challenge to its future security.

Convinced that only an assertive policy would work, both Delhi and Beijing over the past two years began exploiting leverages and pressure points to keep the other side off balance.
India tilted closer to the U.S., China towards Pakistan, and on a scale not witnessed even during the Cold War years.

India-China hostility undermines the interests of both:

1) An adversarial relationship with China brings no advantages and amplifies security problems that India can neither solve on its own nor address with the assistance of external powers who have shown little inclination to deflect Chinese influence in the subcontinent and its littoral.

2) India-China friction enhances Pakistan’s ability to shape Beijing’s South Asia hand even though the latter itself would prefer a more balanced regional posture and a constructive equation with New Delhi.

3) A contentious India-China relationship also reduces India’s bargaining leverage vis-à-vis the U.S. and Japan.
Despite their differences with Beijing, both the U.S. and Japan truly value their interdependence with China.
Sino-American cooperation on the Korean nuclear question and efforts to transform North East Asian geopolitics is just one example.
Japan, with a $300 billion trading relationship with China, too wants to ensure it remains engaged with the world’s second largest economy.

4) The promise of economic cooperation with China can only translate into meaningful outcomes if there is overall geopolitical stability.
Very few economic actors will enter the fray if bilateral ties remain uncertain and turbulent.

Conclusion:

Since 2014, India’s discourse on China’s rise has swung back and forth from paranoia and deep suspicion to calmer assessments of its implications for Asia and the world economy.
There is now a mutual recognition in both India and China that a posture of hostility has undermined their interests. The two governments need to take steps accordingly.ce:

Source: the hindhu

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Defeating terrorism in Afghanistan

In news:

The Taliban has announced its new “spring offensive” and violence in Afghanistan had escalated dangerously this year.
According to the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the number of casualties in the first three months of 2018 was already 2,258.

Uncertainty of policy:

1) Last year, the U.S. announced a new ‘South Asia policy’ for Afghanistan, which was officially welcomed by both New Delhi and Kabul and hailed as a game-changer for the region. Eight months later, the policy itself seems uncertain.

2) The U.S. administration has taken some steps on Pakistani funding of terrorism across the Durand Line but it has clearly not yielded calm on the ground.

Worrisome developments:

1) In a recent attack the ISIS group, a majority of the victims were Shias, highlighting the sectarian turn in the conflict.

2) The statement from the Taliban rejecting Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s offer of talks “without preconditions” and calling for the targeting of American forces in Afghanistan as part of a “spring offensive” signals the security challenge.

3) According to the U.S., Afghan forces control just a little over half the territory today, down from nearly three-fourths in 2015.

It seems that the U.S. policies guiding Afghanistan, and Kabul’s efforts to protect its people, aren’t making any headway.
It is necessary for both to take a more hard-headed, realistic view of the road ahead.

What needs to be done?

There is a need to stop the ‘Great Game’ for influence in Afghanistan.

1) Growing U.S.-Russia tensions are creating space for proxies for both on Afghan soil, and the attacks by al-Qaeda and IS-related terror groups have their roots in the larger war between Iran and the Arab world.

2) Tensions between India and Pakistan cast a shadow over Afghanistan, with India’s development assistance under attack.

3) Driven by the desire to secure itself from Islamist groups, China is trying to build a rival military base in Afghanistan.

Conclusion:

Efforts have not been made for bilateral and multilateral peace talks in recent months, but each one has amounted to too piecemeal an effort.
Defeating terrorism in Afghanistan needs every stakeholder to put aside differences and acknowledge that the current situation is a danger to all.

Source: Indian express

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FACTS:

Zimbabwe legalizes marijuana for medical and scientific purposes.

27^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

National biopharma mission:

Why in news?

World bank approves loan amount of 1,600 crore to the mission.

About NBM:

The aim of the mission is to develop the domestic pharma industry and increase its share globally by creating business opportunities through innovation and using of technological advancement.

The mission aims to develop atleast 6 to 7 products in the next five years.

The money from the world bank will be disbursed over five years to develop new vaccines, medical devices and medicines.

The mission will be implemted by Biotechnology Industrial research and assistance council(BIRAC) which comes under Department of Biotechnology which comes under ministry of Science and technology.

Source: the hindhu

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Suggestions by CCI(CONFEDERATION OF INDIAN INDUSTRY) in improving IBC:

1) allowing promotors to buyback their shares.

2) Allowing home buyers to recover their amount even if the builder is filed for the bankruptcy.

Source: the hindhu

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Taiwan-China relations:

Why in news?China conducts fresh drills near Taiwan.

What is the history and source of this tension?

The first known settlers in Taiwan are Austronesian tribal people thought to have come from modern day southern China.

The island first appears in Chinese records in AD239, when China sent an expeditionary force to explore - a fact Beijing uses to back its territorial claim.

After a brief spell as a Dutch colony (1624-1661) Taiwan was unquestionably administered by China's Qing dynasty from 1683 to 1895.

Starting at the beginning of the 17th Century, significant numbers of migrants started arriving from China, often fleeing turmoil or hardship. Most were Hoklo Chinese from Fujian (Fukien) province or were Hakka Chinese, largely from Guangdong. The descendants of these two migrations now make up by far the largest population group.

In 1895, following Japan's victory in the First Sino-Japanese War, the Qing government had no choice but to cede Taiwan to Japan.

But after World War Two, the Republic of China - one of the victors - began ruling Taiwan with the consent of its allies the US and UK, after Japan surrendered and relinquished control of territory it had taken from China.

However in the next few years, Chiang's troops were beaten back by the Communist armies under Mao Zedong.

Image copyrightCentral PressImage captionChiang Kai-shek, once the leader in China, fled with his supporters to Taiwan

Chiang and the remnants of his Kuomintang (KMT) government fled to Taiwan in 1949. This group, referred to as Mainland Chinese and then making up 1.5m people, dominated Taiwan's politics for many years, even though they only account for 14% of the population.

Having inherited an effective dictatorship, facing resistance from local people resentful of the 228 Massacre and authoritarian rule, and under pressure from a growing democracy movement, Chiang's son, Chiang Ching-kuo, began allowing a process of democratisation, which eventually led to the 2000 election of the island's first non-KMT president, Chen Shui-bian.

Where are things at now?

After decades of hostile intentions and angry rhetoric, relations between China and Taiwan started improving in the 1980s. China put forward a formula, known as "one country, two systems", under which Taiwan would be given significant autonomy if it accepted Chinese reunification.

The offer was rejected, but Taiwan did relax rules on visits to and investment in China. It also, in 1991, proclaimed the war with the People's Republic of China over.

There were also limited talks between the two sides' unofficial representatives, though China's insistence that the Republic of China (ROC) government is illegitimate prevented government-to-government contact.

Image copyrightAFPImage captionChen Shui-ban was a backer of independence for Taiwan from China

Beijing became alarmed in 2000, when Taiwan elected as president Chen Shui-bian, who had openly backed independence.

Mr Chen was re-elected in 2004, prompting China to pass a so-called anti-secession law in 2005, stating China's right to use "non-peaceful means" against Taiwan if it tried to secede from China.

In 2008, Ma Ying-jeou was elected president. He sought to improve relations with China, mainly through economic agreements.

Image copyrightAssociated PressImage captionMa Ying-jeou sought to improve relations with China but was barred by Taiwan's constitution from seeking a third term in office

In elections in January 2016, Tsai Ing-wen defeated Kuomintang party candidate Eric Chu. Mr Ma was barred by Taiwan's constitution from the seeking a third term in office. Ms Tsai leads the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), which leans towards independence from China.

In December 2016, she spoke to the then US President-elect Donald Trump in a phone call, in what was a break with US policy set in 1979 when formal relations were cut.

So what is Taiwan?

There is disagreement and confusion about what Taiwan is, and even what it should be called.

Chiang Kai-shek's Republic of China (ROC) government, which fled the mainland to Taiwan in 1949, at first claimed to represent the whole of China, which it intended to re-occupy. It held China's seat on the United Nations Security Council and was recognised by many Western nations as the only Chinese government.

But in 1971, the UN switched diplomatic recognition to Beijing and the ROC government was forced out. Since then the number of countries that recognise the ROC government iplomatically has fallen to about 20.

China regards Taiwan as a breakaway province which it has vowed to retake, by force if necessary. But Taiwan's leaders say it is clearly much more than a province, arguing that it is a sovereign state.

It has its own constitution, democratically-elected leaders, and about 300,000 active troops in its armed forces.

Given the huge divide between these two positions, most other countries seem happy to accept the current ambiguity, whereby Taiwan has most of the characteristics of an independent state, even if its legal status remains unclear.

How much of an issue is independence in Taiwan?

While political progress has been slow, links between the two peoples and economies have grown sharply. Taiwanese companies have invested about $60bn (£40bn) in China, and up to one million Taiwanese now live there, many running Taiwanese factories.

Some Taiwanese worry their economy is now dependent on China. Others point out that closer business ties makes Chinese military action less likely, because of the cost to China's own economy.

A controversial trade agreement sparked the "Sunflower Movement" in 2014 where students and activists occupied Taiwan's parliament protesting against what they call China's growing influence over Taiwan.

Image copyrightAssociated PressImage captionStudents and activists protested what they thought was a sign of growing economic dependence on China

Officially, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) still favours eventual independence for Taiwan, while the KMT favours eventual re-unification. Opinion polls show only a small minority of Taiwanese support pursuing one or the other at the moment, with most preferring to stick with the current middle ground.

Yet more and more people say they feel Taiwanese rather than Chinese. Support for the DPP increased at the January 2016 election. This was partly because of dissatisfaction with the KMT's handling of economic matters, from the wealth gap to high housing prices, and partly because of worries that Mr Ma's administration was making Taiwan too dependent on Beijing.

What role does the US play?

The US is by far Taiwan's most important friend, and its only ally.

The relationship, forged during World War Two and the Cold War, underwent its sternest test in 1979, when President Jimmy Carter ended US diplomatic recognition of Taiwan in order to concentrate on burgeoning ties with China.

The US Congress, responding to the move, passed the Taiwan Relations Act, which promises to supply Taiwan with defensive weapons, and stressed that any attack by China would be considered of "grave concern" to the US.

Since then, US policy has been described as one of "strategic ambiguity", seeking to balance China's emergence as a regional power with US admiration for Taiwan's economic success and democratisation..

Source: the hindhu

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EDITORIAL:

“Anatomy of the reset”

In detail:

Last year India and China had both positive as well as negative sides. the aggressive postures posed by both countries to balance each other in the region has not been fruitful to both countries. The incidents such as china’s opposition to include India in the NSG(Nuclear suppliers group), delaying tactics by China in not putting JEM- chief Masood azar in UN terror watch list.

All these had angered India. India balanced these acts by countering Chinese by the following.India’s decision to boycott the OBOR summit which is an pet project for Xinping, India’s inclusion in “quad” group which consists of India,USA,JAPAN,AUSTRALIA. All these had angered Beijing.

But finally both countries felt that “”their common interests outweigh their differences” and they both left the aggressive path and come to the table again to deal with their potential. It was seen when Modi congratulated Xingping over his election to continue for the president “life time” by removing the “two term ” policy set by Deng Xiapong and PM modi’s visit to Beijing to attend the two day meet withot any agenda which will led them to deal with wide range of issues ranging from both bilateral and Multilateral relations.

Both countries should learn from China- japan relations and China-USA relations because despite their differences between both countries the economic engagement between these countries had grown substantially. differences

Likewise India- China the two large populated countries have to resolve the

Issues and reduce the tension between them to increase the trade.

Topic: “Saving Afghanisthan”

In detail:

In late last year Afghan president Ghani called for talks with Taliban without any “pre-conditionalities”. Taliban rejected the talk and they called for “spring offensive” against the Afghan forces. The timing of the attack is worse because elections in the Afghan is nearer and this threat by Afghan will pose threat to election process.

Taliban which holds larger areas under its rule in Afghanisthan than the Afghan government. During later years of Obama rule the decision to pull out from Afghanistan gradually was put to end by the Trump administration. Trumps decision to increase the troops in Afghanistan were not gone well with Taliban because they are calling for the complete withdrawal of the foreign forces. This will further complicate the situation.

Did capital punishment needed for Minor rape accused?

Yes:

The proponents of Death penalty for raping minors say that it will instill fear among the offenders who commit this heinous crime. So it will act as an deterrent to the Child and at the same time it will help to remove the social stigma when people start realizing the act involves stringent punishment.

NO:

They say that the whenever the crime happened the government will come out with harsh punishment. The POCSO act already had a provision of life imprisionmentfor this crime. Law commission report 262 and 268 will show us that the death penalty had no any impact on offenders committing crime.

This punishment will further diminise the reporting of this crime by Children because most of these cases involves “known person” to the victims whether it will be neighbors or relatives. The government had taken this step just to shut down the national outcry created after the kathua rape. Government should address the core concerns like strengthening the judicial justice system by winning the confidence of the children.

Neutral view:

The efficacy of capital punishment have to be examined because since U.K removed the capital punishment for the murders the rate of committing murders had been increased at the same time in Canada the rate had been decreased after removing the capital punishmentfor the murders.

This shows an underlying social impact in the society will have an influence whether there is an increase or decrease of crime. Even for the capital punishment to be worked means we should strengthen the judicial system.

Facts:

1) when the Centre had said that Aadhar- SIM linkage is based on SC orders. The SC had criticized the center for misusing SC name in its defiance for this linkage and it also added that SC only asked the center to further strengthen the rules regarding the linkage this doesn’t mean that there is an SC endorsement for this.

2)India started working with three major oil importers from Asia such as Japan, China, Philiphines along with India amounts for 20% of global demand to demand a reasionable price from OPEC.

3) the CAATSA(countering Americas adversaries through sanctions act) imposed by USA on Russia will have an significant impact on India because India have strong trade relations with Russia. Former USA’s diplomat of Indian origin Nesha biswal had also cautioned American lawmakers as well as boeing and other defence suppliers are also lobbying to amend the laws. If we see the trend in defence supplies to India in last decade it will show that India had diversified its defence imports.

4) trumps decision to end H1-4 VISA draws criticism from Democratic lawmakers. They also indicated that most of the H1-4 visa holders are women and they also see this rule as “gender discriminatory”.

5) Mike pompeo had become the secretary of state. The outgoing CIA director had secured the majority support of 57 from the senate.

6) Reporters without borders had released the report on “press freedom index” IN WHICH India had slipped its rank from 136 in 2017 to 138 in 2018. Norway, Sweden, Netherlands tops the list. North korea ranks last. China is at 176.

26^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

JCPOA(Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action):

Why in news?

Iran’s president Rouhani says that if JCPOA stays it should stays in full

Background:

It is an agreement signed between Iran and P5+1 countries in 2015 to prevent Iran from making nuclear weapons. Once Trump assumes office in USA he criticized the deal and asked the signatories to review the deal. (In detail see our this month current affairs).

News in detail:

Recently French president Macron visited USA. During the visit he called for not to abandon the agreement until the broader international accord will be reached that addresses all concerns.

Conclusion:

The agreement should not be abandon completely because it is needed for the Gulf zone to remain nuclear free zone. If the agreement is abandoned it will led Iran to produce nuclear weapons and if Iran produces nuclear weapons it will make other countries in Gulf zone especially Saudi Arabia and its allies insecure and they will also go nuclear way therefore it will affect the security and stability of the zone.

Source: the hindhu

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PRAGATI(Pro active Governance and timely implementation platform):

Why in news?

PM interacted through Pragati.

News in detail:

The platform introduced by PM Modi in 2015. This platform will be coordinated by PMO office where the officials of the different ministries and the chief secretaries of the states will have a direct interaction with the PM. The agenda will be put down by PMO 7 days prior to the PRAGATHI day. The digital platform is used to interact with state officials.

These STEPS will strengthen cooperative federalism and it will also help in implementing the delayed projects because of the direct interaction from PM itself.

Source: the hindhu

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DIFFERNCE between MOU and MOA:

Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)

In general contract law, the MOU is the first stage in the creation of a formal agreement (contract). This document sets out the points of agreement (the intended common lines of action) of the parties for the purposes of the agreement. Nowadays, the MOU is often an integral part of the contract and courts will hold if one party fails to meet the obligations of the MOU provisions.

Memorandum of Agreement (MOA)

Less usually but not uncommon, "MOA" is the Memorandum of Agreement, otherwise known as a "cooperative agreement." This type of legal document is more formal than a verbal agreement but less formal than a contract. It sets out the ground rules of a positive cooperate effort for the parties wishing to work together on a project. The parties using cooperative agreements are usually public bodies and/or government agencies. In practical terms, the cooperative agreement allows the parties to operate as separate entities with a lower level of contractual obligations yet still binds the parties in some way in case of legal dispute.

Most usually, the cooperative agreement is featured in service partnerships between public bodies to provide technical assistance and training, regardless of whether or not money is exchanged as part of the cooperative effort.

Source: investopedia

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Schduled areas:

Why in news?

Cabinet approves the extension of scheduled areas in Rajasthan.

News in detail:

Background:

The Scheduled Areas were first notified in the year 1950. Subsequently, Constitution Orders specifying the Scheduled Areas were issued for State of Rajasthan in1981. Due to reorganization/creation of new districts and changes in population of Scheduled Tribes as per 2011 Census, the Government of Rajasthan has requested for extension of Scheduled Areas in the State of Rajasthan.

About scheduled areas:

As per paragraph 6(1) of the Fifth Schedule {Article 244(1)} to the Constitution of India, the expression 'Scheduled Areas' means ‘such areas as the President may by order declare to be Scheduled Areas'.

In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 6(2) of the Fifth Schedule to the Constitution, the President may at any time by order increase the area of any Scheduled Area in a State after consultation with the Governor of that State; rescind, in relation to any State or States, any order or orders made under this paragraph, and in consultation with the Governor of the State concerned, make fresh orders redefining the areas which are to be Scheduled Areas.

Source: the hindhu, Indian express.

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National bamboo mission:

WHY IN NEWS?

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi today has approvedCentrally Sponsored Scheme of National Bamboo Mission (NBM) under National Mission for Sustainable Agriculture (NMSA) during remaining period of Fourteenth Finance Commission (2018-19 & 2019-20). The Mission would ensure holistic development of the bamboo sector by addressing complete value chain and establishing effective linkage of producers (farmers) with industry.

THE RESTRUCTURED NBM INCLUDES:

(i) To increase the area under bamboo plantation in non forest Government and private lands to supplement farm income and contribute towards resilience to climate change.

(ii) To improve post-harvest management through establishment of innovative primary processing units, treatment and seasoning plants, primary treatment and seasoning plants, preservation technologies and market infrastructure.

(iii) To promote product development at micro, small and medium levels and feed bigger industry.

(iv) To rejuvenate the under developed bamboo industry in India.

(v) To promote skill development, capacity building, awareness generation for development of bamboo sector.

CONCLUSION:

Bamboo plantation will contribute to optimizing farm productivity and income thereby enhancing livelihood opportunities of small & marginal farmers including landless and women as well as provide quality material to industry. Thus, the Mission will not only serve as a potential instrument for enhancing income of farmers but also contributing towards climate resilience and environmental benefits. The Mission will also help in creating employment generation directly or indirectly in both skilled and unskilled segments.

Source: the hindhu

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EMPLOYEE PROVIDENT FUND:

Why in news?

India added more 2.7 lakh employees to state run employees provident fund. Government says that new employment had been created in the non-farm sector.

News in detail:

Mandatory contribution:

Companies with 20 or more employees had to mandatorily contribute to EPF as part of social security.

Government also considering to make it to “10 or more employees” from current 20.

This data will help the current government to deflect the criticism that despite high growth employment not generated.

Source: the hindhu

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Editorial:

Topic: “Global nuclear cloud is darkening”

In detail:

Recent incidents happening around the world which shows that nuclear cloud that threatens the world is weakening now. The incident which I referred was North Korea’s decision to denuclearize the Korean peninsula and an historic meeting between both Koreas. Kim had agreed to these talks to save his regime from external forces like USA and its allies as well as his “all weather friend” China also voted in favor of multiple sanctions imposed by UN and also the “internal discontenment” among the people of North Korea as they were heavily affected by these sanctions imposed by USA.

As per amnesty international no of people had been died due to hungry and poverty after sanctions imposed by UN crippled their economy. And the fear of how USA and its allies had damaged the whole country aftermath of the alleged founding of Nuclear weapons in Iran,Iraq.

On one side nuclear weapons race is darkening on the other side there is grewing consensus that the Trump action threatening of scrapping the JCPOA as he alleged that the it was a “bad deal” despite United Nations Atomic energy Agency had clarified that Iran is compiling with the deal which was signed in 2015. The US presidents words led to the fear that the Iran will be compelled to go nuclear way and if it does then it will lead to chain of nuclear weapons race in the Gulf region.

Source: the hindhu

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FACTS:

1. Europe’s Gaia satellite launched in 2013 has mapped the 3-D image of more than 1.7 billion stars in our Milky way galaxy. This will allow studies which was not possible so far. The next update of the satellite will be available in 2020.

2. SC clears Indhu Malhotra as a SC judge. She was the first women Judge who was elevated “directly” to the SC from being lawyer.

3. DMK backs “Federal front” with 1:1 formula by which the leadership in each state to the best challenger to the BJP leaving very little ground for the congress to cover. This comes after these parties feel that Rahul Gandhi has no national appeal to challenge Narendra Modi.

4. Bhaba atomic research centre(BARC) had developed Bullet proof jacket which our country net importer. Its weight is only 6.6 kg out of 17 kg currently in use and had been certified by many agencies. The jacket was named as “Bhabha kavach” named after indian scientist Homi Bhaba.

5. Cabinet committee on economic affairs had fixed 200 per quintal. The decision was taken after the recommendation of committee of costs and prices.

6. SC judges had recommended to CJI to conduct “full court” once in a while so that ideas can exchanged in free and frank manner which will help to further strengthen the institution.

25^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

UNNAT BHARAT ABHIYAN(UBA):

WHY IN NEWS?

Unnat Bharat Abhiyan of MHRD gets wider spread.

NEWS IN DETAIL:

ABOUT UBA:

1) The programme with the help of IIT’s, NIT’s and other leading technical institutions will prepare a roadmap for holistic rural development.

2) Each IIT’s will choose ten villages and they should know the problem of the villages and they should try to sought out solutions to those problems.

3) Once the solution is identified they should involve industry to solve the problem.

4) Along with the HRD ministry and the institutes, some other ministries such as rural development and NGOs working in villages are also likely to be involved in this programme.

Source: The hindhu

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New system to measure air quality: Being jointly developed by India, US & Finland

Key pointers:

1) India is tying up with the United States and Finland to develop a pollution-forecast system that will help anticipate particulate matter (PM) levels at least two days in advance and at a greater resolution than what is possible now.

2) The Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) will be coordinating this exercise.

3) Currently, the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), run out of the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Pune, serves as the apex forecaster of pollution trends in Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Ahmedabad.

4) It generates a likely air quality profile, a day in advance, for these cities.

5) IITM is an organisation under the MoES.

6) The new system will use a different modelling approach as well as computational techniques from that employed in the SAFAR model.

7) Recently, the Union Environment Ministry released a draft of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) that aims to improve air quality monitoring in India by increasing the number of pollution monitoring stations and, incorporating it into a pollution forecast system.

Source: the hindhu

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Increasing female participation in national politics

Background:

For a country with a female population that is larger than that of the United States and a thriving democracy that prides itself on being robust and responsive, India has done rather poorly when it comes to female representation in national politics.
The 16th Lok Sabha has only 64 women among its 542 members, a mere 11.8 per cent. Afghanistan (27.7 per cent), Pakistan (20.6 per cent) and Saudi Arabia (19.9 per cent) do better.

Need to increase female participation in national politics:

As representatives, we need women-

1) To eliminate the systemic biases and structural barriers that keep girls out of the tech industry, victims of gender-based violence in fear and women’s sports teams under-funded. To dismantle structural barriers, the responsibility falls on working women who have successfully overcome constraints to open the gates for other women.

2) To design laws that encourage better education for girls. To secure financial independence and formal employment for women. To push up our abysmal female labour force participation rates. To ensure that female hygiene products are not taxed as luxury goods.

3) Watching women in leadership positions reduces the negative perceptions men have about their effectiveness as leaders. It also induces men to dream better dreams for their daughters, and that is no mean feat.

More creative and competitive women needed in politics:

1) PRS research highlights that the share of lawyers in Parliament at the moment is a mere 7 per cent, relative to the 36 per cent in the very first legislature after Independence.
2) Today, the largest single occupation represented in Parliament is agriculture (27 per cent), followed by political and social service (24 per cent).
3) As India makes laws that determine what our technology, public safety, economy, and foreign policy will look like in the coming years, we need more of these professional skills in our legislative bodies. We need more lawyers, medical practitioners (currently 4 per cent), teachers (4 per cent), civil, police, and military service personnel (2 per cent), and journalists (less than 1 per cent) to use their knowledge and expertise to shape legislation, anticipating the challenges of tomorrow.
4) Over the past few decades, women have made their mark as effective managers, bankers, professors, corporate leaders, lawyers, doctors and civil servants. These are women who know how to solve problems, get things done and manage multiple responsibilities.
Electing able women professionals will help us simultaneously achieve better representation and expertise.

Challenges:

1) Quotas at national level:
The government has instituted quotas for women political candidates at the local level — 33 per cent of seats are reserved for them. These quotas have been successful.
Yet, there is resistance to implementing them at the national level.
Critics allege that these quotas are neither meritocratic nor useful because women in politics are simply representatives of the men who would have been in politics — wives and daughters of male proxies.
The quotas at the local level have improved the quality of local policymaking, as women have tended to invest significantly more than their male counterparts on the provision of public goods — health, education, and roads.

2) Professional women can voluntarily run for office and overcome criticism about women being male proxies and that quotas negatively affect meritocracy.
But, entering politics voluntarily, without a political background, is not easy. The financial, social and cultural barriers to entry are higher for women. There is more criticism and less support.
Voters subject women candidates to higher standards than male candidates.

Conclusion:

Making the decision to run for office requires planning. It requires overcoming financial barriers, and it needs supportive partners and families. But once these challenges are overcome the women in politics would give the younger generations the opportunity to grow up in a more inclusive country, a country that makes better decisions for all.

Source: the hindhu

24^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

Rajya sabha chairman rejected impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India(CJI):

Background:

Opposition parties led by congress includes CPI(M), CPI, NCP, SP, BSP had submitted a notice before Rajya sabha Chairman to initiate the motion to impeach CJI.

News in detail:

Chairman rejected the notice saying that there is no substantial proof to impeach CJI. The notice is only of “assumptions and suspicion”.

Chairman also does not want to denigrate the Highest position in India CJI by initiating the motion.

Chairman also cited recent SC order that CJI is “Master of roaster” and “first among the equals” as a reason to reject the notice.

The centre also have similar opinion.

The opposition parties are crying that the Chairman should not decide whether there is suspicion or not it is the duty of the investigation committee to be constituted when the motion is initiated.

They are also vying to move the case to the SC itself. If the case is accepted involving CJI. The judge who are next in line in terms of seniority and experience will handle the case.

There was also difference of opinion regarding this rejection . One section of eminent lawyers and former judges were criticizing the move by chairman. According to them the Chairman’s power was to see whether the notice was backed by 50MP’S or not. It is the duty of the Inquiry committee to decide whether there is any suspicion or not.

While the others were of the opinion that the chairman was the ”master of the house” so he had the power to look into case whether there is “prima facie” evidence is there or not. If not he had the power to reject the notice given to him.

What can court could do now if opposition moves to SC against the decision of the Chairman:

1)Court might dismiss the case citing the reason of “distribution of powers” as the case here involves between the presiding officer(Chairman) and the members of the house.

2)The court might dismiss the case by agreeing with the chairman’s view that there is no Prima facie evidence against the CJI.

3)The court could say that members have not proved the alleged mala fides in the ruling.

Finally, it could hear and decide as per the Constitution and the law.

Source: the hindhu, the Indian express

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AFSPA(Armed Forces Special Protection Act):

Why in news?

The home ministry had removed the AFSPA from Meghalaya where earlier 20-km stretch of Meghalaya-Assam(after 2 decades), Manipur and in some parts of Arunachal Pradesh where the act was restricted to 8 police stations from 16 currently.

The Ministry has also relaxed the Protected Area Permit (PAP) for foreigners visiting Manipur, Mizoram and Nagaland. The PAP will be valid for five years, but residents from Pakistan, Afghanistan and China will not be allowed to visit these areas.

The Foreigners (Protected Areas) Order 1958 states that a Protected Area Permit (PAP) is required for non-Indian citizens to visit certain areas in India (mainly in the North-East).[1] Certain requirements have to be fulfilled in order to get this permit. Indian citizens who are not resident in these areas need an Inner Line Permit (ILP) to enter these places. The Inner Line Permit is significantly easier to get.

In addition, the Foreigners (Restricted Areas) Order 1968 states that a Restricted Area Permit (RAP) is required for non-Indians to visit certain areas in India. As of 2009, RAP are required for all visits to the Union Territory of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and parts of the state of Sikkim. Unlike PAP, RAP are generally available for individual travellers and can be issued by overseas embassies or even, in some cases such as Port Blair's Vir Savarkar Airport, on the spot. Indian citizens do not need special permission to visit Restricted Areas.

In 2015 Triupura government had removed the act.

About AFSPA:

Why is this required?

The government (either the state or centre) considers those areas to be ‘disturbed’ “by reason of differences or disputes between members of different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities.”

How does one officially declare a region to be ‘disturbed’?

Section (3) of the AFSPA Act empowers the governor of the state or Union territory to issue an official notification on The Gazette of India, following which the centre has the authority to send in armed forces for civilian aid. It is still unclear whether the governor has to prompt the centre to send in the army or whether the centre on its own sends in troops.

Once declared ‘disturbed’, the region has to maintain status quo for a minimum of three months, according to The Disturbed Areas (Special Courts) Act, 1976.

What about the state government’s role?

The state governments, as in Tripura’s case, can suggest whether the Act is required to be enforced or not. But under Section (3) of the Act, their opinion can still be overruled by the governor or the centre.

Is the Act uniform in nature?

No. Originally, it came into being as an ordinance in 1958 and within months was repealed and passed as an Act. But, this was meant only for Assam and Manipur, where there was insurgency by Naga militants. But after the northeastern states were reorganized in 1971, the creation of new states (some of them union territories originally) like Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh paved the way for the AFSPA Act to be amended, so that it could be applied to each of them. They may contain different sections as applicable to the situation in each state.

What about Jammu and Kashmir? There were reports saying that it technically wasn’t a disturbed area after 1998.

This is a bit more complex. Jammu and Kashmir (as with a lot of things) has a separate legislation for this—its own Disturbed Areas Act (DAA) which came into existence in 1992. So, as this Indian Express article points out, even if the DAA for J&K lapsed in 1998, the government reasoned that the state can still be declared disturbed under Section(3) of AFSPA.

Is Tripura then the first state to completely do away with AFSPA?

No. It was applied in Punjab and Chandigarh in 1983 due to secessionist movements and lasted for 14 years until there 1997. What is interesting was that while the Punjab government withdrew its DAA in 2008, it continued in Chandigarh till September 2012 when the Punjab and Haryana high court struck it down following a petition filed by a local member of the Janata Dal (United).

While the review for Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland is still handled by the Centre, Assam and Manipur governments have been notifying ‘disturbed’ areas — a prerequisite for imposing the law — on their own.

Source: The Indian express, The hindhu, livemint

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India-china military might comparision:

About :

India’s defence forces was not the one like in 1962 war were we lost to China because of lack of military technology and training. Let us see the Comparision our defence forces with that of China.

Source: Indian express

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Section 377:

Why in news?

A Hotilier has filed the case in SC to review its own judgement in 2013 which criminalises the Homosexuality. The hotlier want to make “right of sexual orientation” as a Fundamental right. The court asked the centre of its opinion.

News in detail :

The court are of the opinion to review the judgement but it asked the centre for its opinion. As it says that in 2013 judgement were given when it consider that the homosexuality is against the nature. But now it is of the opinion that the one who considers nature while others don’t but the confines of law cannot trample or curtail the inherent rights embedded with an individual under Article 21 (right to life).

Source: the hindhu

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Shangai cooperation organization(SCO):

Why in news?

India’s External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj went to Beijing to attend SCO meeting.

News in detail:

She at the meeting spoke of rising of protectionism across the world. She stated that “India is in favour of globiliasation against the protectionism” and urged the foreign ministers of different countries to safeguard the globilisation which led the countries like India and China increase the growth and made them Major economies in the world.

In response, Chinese foreign minister Lu kang said “India and China are the guardians of the multipolar world and economic liberilisation and as well as ensuring peace, stability and development”.

About SCO:

SCO was started in 2001.

It is an intergovernmental international organisation.

Headquartered in Beijing, China.

It consists of eight members which includes China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Kazakashtan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan,Tazikisthan.

the SCO counts four observer states, namely the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, the Republic of Belarus, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Republic of Mongolia;

• the SCO has six dialogue partners, namely the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Republic of Armenia, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, the Republic of Turkey, and the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.

8-9 June 2017 in Astana. On the meeting the status of a full member of the Organization was granted to the Republic of India and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

OBJECTIVE:

The SCO's main goals are as follows: strengthening mutual trust and neighbourliness among the member states; promoting their effective cooperation in politics, trade, the economy, research, technology and culture, as well as in education, energy, transport, tourism, environmental protection, and other areas; making joint efforts to maintain and ensure peace, security and stability in the region; and moving towards the establishment of a democratic, fair and rational new international political and economic order.

6) India may drag USA to WTO over tarrifs on steel and aluminium exports from India if USA have not granted extension.

India’s steel and aluminum exports to USA accounts for just 2.2% of India’s overall steel exports. And by the way India is not security threat to USA. Both countries also enjoys strategic partnership that goes beyond the trade relationship.

Trade deficit with USA had come down by 6% which currently stands at 23 $ billion which was down by 6%.

Source: SCO, the hindhu

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Remittances:

Why in news?

World bank released report on remittances during the year of 2017.

News in detail:

World over remittances had grown 573 billion in 2016 to $ 613 billion in 2017.

This was due to strengthening of Euro and rubble and it also due to Higher oil prices.

India continue to top the world in the amount of remittances received which increased from $69 billion last year to $70.4billion in 2017.

Second to India is China which received $64 billion followed by Philippines($33 billion or $33b), Mexico($31 billion), Nigeria($22b), Egypt($20b).

Remittances means sum of money sent in payment or as a gift.

Source: the hindhu

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Editorial:

Topic: “The risk in Fracking”

Introduction:

If fossil fuel energy will decline by 2050 there are many alternate fuels which replaces the fossil fuel one among them is Shale gas production.

Shale gas and oil are unconventional natural resources found at 2,500-5,000 m Below the earth’s surface as compared to conventional crude oil found at 1,500m.

The process of extracting Shale gas requires deep vertical drilling followed by Horizontal drilling. The most common way to extract shale gas is “hydraulic fracturing”(fracking), where high volumes of water mixed with certain chemicals are pushed down to break the rocks.

Because of its benefits, shale gas is being perceived by some as a ‘saviour’ of humanity. Fracking seems an attractive tool, both politically and economically. To gain such benefits, the government introduced a policy on shale gas and oil in 2013, permitting national oil companies to engage in fracking.

Under the first phase, shale gas blocks were identified in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu. However, environmental groups have strongly criticised this move, which they say will have adverse environmental impacts. Countries like Germany and France and subnational governments like Scotland have banned fracking.

Positive and negative impacts

Fracking is bound to have positive economic and political impacts. In the U.S., where shale gas has been commercially exploited for two decades, the prices of fuel and electricity have dropped. Recent negotiations between the Secretary of the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and American shale producers to control oil production and prices show that the U.S. has gained significant political advantage. Similarly, if India commercially exploits shale deposits, it could meet its ever-increasing energy demand, decrease oil and gas imports, and improve the balance of payments.

While this paints a possible bright future, fracking is bound to have a detrimental impact on local communities and the environment. As fracking consumes large amounts of water (average 15,000 m3/well) and relatively larger surface area, it is bound to impact irrigation and other local requirements. In the U.S. experience, out of 260 chemical substances, 58 have been identified to pose a risk to human life and environment, eight are carcinogens and 17 are toxic to freshwater organisms.

Further, as 25-90% of the fluid is not retrieved and cracks in the shaft are possible, there is a high risk of pollution to nearby underground water. Instances of groundwater pollution have been reported in the U.S. (Pennsylvania) and Canada. Fracking has other impacts such as increased air emissions (including greenhouse gases) and seismic activity. Environmental impact assessments of the European Union and the U.K. have recognised these risks.

Legal hurdles

The Supreme Court of India has ruled that every person has the right to enjoy pollution-free water and air. It is also an established principle that the state holds its natural resources in trust for the benefit of the people, and has the duty to protect these resources from harm. If the risk from fracking to underground water materialises, courts can hold the state responsible for it, stop the activity, and order other corrective and preventive measures.

Another hurdle that fracking might face is the ‘precautionary principle’, which has been incorporated into law. It dictates that where there is a significant risk to the environment or human health, precautionary measures must be undertaken, irrespective of any scientific uncertainty. Therefore, even though some scholars might contest the above-mentioned risks posed by fracking, the government would be obliged to adopt measures to reduce those risks.

The Model Bill for the Conservation, Protection, Regulation and Management of Groundwater, 2016, sets a priority for use of groundwater — right to water for life, and water to achieve “food security, supporting sustenance agriculture, sustainable livelihoods and eco-system needs”. Only after satisfying these priorities can underground water be used for other purposes. In the light of the risks involved, the government should impose a moratorium on fracking.

Topic: “Asian ripple effect”

Introduction:

The protectionist policies of US President DONALd. J.Trump making Asian countries looking inwards. Three regional heavy weights Japan, China and India are about to change the change world order. Recent activities of India and China resetting ties have to seen in this contest. Just a day after Trump announced tariffs on steel and aluminum products imported from many countries including Japan Chinese foreign minister fled to Tokyo and soon days after the strategic and economic dialogue between two countries began. All these are showing that the compelling logic of geoeconomics seems to be winning over geopolitical fundamentalism. Shinzo abe PM of Japan has scheduled to visit Beijing as a part of resetting ties and may be this will be followed by arrival of Trump to Tokyo next year to attend G20 meet scheduled to meet in Osaka, Japan. This also had a ripple effect among the other Asean countries some among them like Singapore, South korea are economic giants which are also in speedy process in implementing RCEP(Regional Economic Partnership Agreement).

China and India become the leading economies in the world due to globalization so they are in the urgent need to keep the globalization alive to keep their economy growing.

Topic: “Shinzo abe difficult year”

In detail:

Shinzo abe had been elected in snap polls held in Japan October last year.

But soon after that the scandals and nepotism which were raised earlier to the polls had resurfaced now.

There were also report that he may be removed from the party by June.

Significance to India:

Japan PM Shinzo abe and PM Narendra modi had a good personal rapport with Abe while he visited India last year both of them laid the foundation stone of “Mumbai-Ahmedabad bullet train project”. The project that had been planned already will be implemented and there will be a continuity in relationship if he stays in office in Japan.

CPI bonhomie:

Ahead of 2019 elections CPI,CPI(M) had forged an alliance to combat the heavy weight in BJP PM Modi during the recently held politbureau meeting.

During the meeting itself there was a faction emerged between yechury and Prakash karat faction. After the election of yechury as a General secretary of CPI(M) it was believed that the party will go on his line. His belief is that to combat Modi forging alliance with likeminded parties who are against the communal forces should be united. But other faction led by Prakash Karat who believes that both Congress and BJP are burgeonist parties so aligning with them will cost CPI(M) in the long run.

But Mr. Yechury’s election as general secretary will in the coming days there will be an alliance with congress to take on BJP.

Topic: “Best laid plans”

In detail:

Turkey president who was in power as Prime minister sice 2002 and as the President since 2014 is populist, right-wing nationalist who always use his nationalistic posture to win the electoral battle and also made amendments in the constitution by using that posture.

The turkey led group targeting Kurdish militia which was supported by the USA in a awr on ISIS had raised his image among the Turkish voters as well as fractured opposition had also is in his favour.

Breif History of India-Turkey relations:

Both are developing countries and powerful in their respective regions had a good relationship. Erdogan who is trying to become the leader of the Muslim world had good rapport with Modi when he visited India last year. Though some problems there especially on Kashmir issue where Turkey supported Resolution on Kashmir in OIC(Organisation of Islamic countries) but when they talk bilaterally they had a different tone. Apart from from this economic relationship between both countries will continue to grow strongly.

Source: the hindhu

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FACTS:

1)GI tag for Warrangal dhurries(warrangal is in Telengana)

2) Former foreign secretary Jaishankar had joined Tata sons Board. Generally diplomats who are in higher position when retired will not be allowed to work in private firms during cooling period. But Mr.Jaishankar who had a good rapport with PM modi had got the nod very soon to join the Tata sons board.

23^rd April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

RERA:

Why RERA?

For long, home buyers have complained that real estate transactions were lopsided and heavily in favour of the developers. RERA and the government’s model code, aim to create a more equitable and fair transaction between the seller and the buyer of properties, especially in the primary market.

How will RERA impact home buyers

Some of the important compliances are:

* Informing allottees about any minor addition or alteration.

* Consent of 2/3rd allottees about any other addition or alteration.

* No launch or advertisement before registration with RERA

* Consent of 2/3rd allottees for transferring majority rights to 3rd party.

* Sharing information project plan, layout, government approvals, land title status, sub-contractors.

* Increased assertion on the timely completion of projects and delivery to the consumer.

* An increase in the quality of construction due to a defect liability period of five years.

* Formation of RWA within specified time or 3 months after majority of units have been sold.

The most positive aspect of this Act is that it provides a unified legal regime for the purchase of flats; apartments, etc., and seeks to standardise the practice across the country. Below are certain key highlights of the Act:

Establishment of the regulatory authority: The absence of a proper regulator (like the Securities Exchange Board of India for the capital markets) in the real estate sector, was long felt. The Act establishes Real Estate Regulatory Authority in each state and union territory. Its functions include protection of the interests of the stakeholders, accumulating data at a designated repository and creating a robust grievance redressal system. To prevent time lags, the authority has been mandated to dispose applications within a maximum period of 60 days; and the same may be extended only if a reason is recorded for the delay. Further, the Real Estate Appellate Authority (REAT) shall be the appropriate forum for appeals.

Compulsory registration: According to the central act, every real estate project (where the total area to be developed exceeds 500 sq mtrs or more than 8 apartments is proposed to be developed in any phase), must be registered with its respective state’s RERA. Existing projects where the completion certificate (CC) or occupancy certificate (OC) has not been issued, are also required to comply with the registration requirements under the Act. While applying for registration, promoters are required to provide detailed information on the project e.g. land status, details of the promoter, approvals, schedule of completion, etc. Only when registration is completed and other approvals (construction related) are in place, can the project be marketed.

Reserve account: One of the primary reasons for delay of projects was that funds collected from one project, would invariably be diverted to fund new, different projects. To prevent such a diversion, promoters are now required to park 70% of all project receivables into a separate reserve account. The proceeds of such account can only be used towards land and construction expenses and will be required to be certified by a professional.

Continual disclosures by promoters: After the implementation of the Act, home buyers will be able to monitor the progress of the project on the RERA website since promoters will be required to make periodic submissions to the regulator regarding the progress of the project.

Title representation: Promoters are now required to make a positive warranty on his right title and interest on the land, which can be used later against him by the home buyer, should any title defect be discovered. Additionally, they are required to obtain insurance against the title and construction of the projects, proceeds of which shall go to the allottee upon execution of the agreement of sale.

Standardisation of sale agreement: The Act prescribes a standard model sale agreement to be entered into between promoters and homebuyers. Typically, promoters insert punitive clauses against home buyers which penalised them for any default while similar defaults by the promoter attracted negligible or no penalty. Such penal clauses could well be a thing of the past and home buyers can look forward to more balanced agreements in the future.

Penalty: To ensure that violation of the Act is not taken lightly, stiff monetary penalty (up to 10% of the project cost) and imprisonment has been prescribed against violators.

RERA definition of carpet area

The area of a property is often calculated in three different ways – carpet area, built-up area and super built-up area. Hence, when it comes to buying a property, this can leads to a lot of disconnect, between what you pay and what you actually get.

With the advent of RERA, specialised forums such as the State Real Estate Regulatory Authority and the Real Estate Appellate Tribunal, will be established for the resolution of disputes pertaining to home buying and the aggrieved party will have no recourse to other consumer forums and civil courts, on such matters. While the RERA sets the groundwork for fast-tracking dispute resolution, the litmus test for its success, will depend on the timely setting up of these new dispute resolution bodies and how these disputes are resolved expeditiously with a degree of finality.

Source: moneycontrol.com

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Editorial:

Topic: “Outcome of the commonwealth meeting”

Introduction:

PM modi had completed his maiden journey to U.K.

In detail:

1.With the goal of expanding investment and boosting intra-Commonwealth trade to US$2 Trillion by 2030

2.60% of commonwealth grouping countries consisting of the population below the age of 35 years. So the summit called for development of youths in their respective countries.

3.Heads agreed to mainstream youth priorities into national development policies and plans, and to promote the participation of young people at all levels of decision making

4.Heads recognised that concerted action is required to address the unique challenges and vulnerabilities of small and vulnerable states to ensure their full participation in and contribution to a more prosperous future.

5.Heads expressed grave concern that without urgent action to mitigate climate change, reduce vulnerability and increase resilience

6.Heads adopted the Commonwealth Blue Charter, setting out the principles by which Commonwealth member countries will lead international efforts by sustainably developing and protecting their ocean.

7.Heads emphasised their continued support for the work of the World Health Organization and international efforts to tackle the wide range of serious health challenges, the burden of which has a significant socio-economic impact on individuals and families, and to increase national health expenditure throughout the Commonwealth.

8.Heads encouraged the implementation of specific actions to provide the opportunity for at least 12 years of quality education and learning for girls and boys by 2030, by investing in skilled motivated and supportive teachers, educational facilities, and focusing on education reforms.

9.Recognising the need to work in consultation with each other to enhance cyber security to protect critical national infrastructure, and the economic and social value of cyberspace

10.Heads opposed the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances and are committed to strengthening the effective implementation of the Chemical Weapons Convention.

11.Heads resolved to tackle the enablers of Serious and Transnational Organised Crime: corruption; illicit financial flows; money laundering; terrorist financing; poaching and illegal wildlife trade; and illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing; by cooperating with international and regional bodies

12. Heads welcomed The Gambia back into the Commonwealth and agreed to work towards a programme of support to reintegrate the country into the family.

13. Heads expressed regret at the Government of Maldives’s decision to withdraw from the Commonwealth on 16 October 2016. Heads looked forward to welcoming Maldives back into the family when the conditions were right.

Source: commonwealth.org, the hindhu

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TOPIC: “Death penalty is not an answer”

Introduction:

Recenty cabinet had approved death penalty for raping minors.

In detail:

While some welcomed the move but critics had different point. They say that death penalty is just a gimmick. It was done to calm the national uproar over the death of minor girl in kathua.

They also say that this move will lead to further lower reporting of cases because in most of the cases the accused was either close relatives or known person to victim. So the death penalty move will further discourage them from complaining about the incident.

Justice verma committee which recommended for the enactment of the POCSO act was also against the move.

Instead focusing on this government should take the following steps. They are:

There is an unwarranted delay in prosecution of the cases. Government should take efforts speed up the cases.

Government should also take steps increase the conviction rates. Then only there will be some fear created on the rape accusers otherwise they will be emboldened by the delay in prosecution of the cases.

Investigating officers should be more sensitive in dealing with these cases because victim was already in traumatized state so this will further add to their trauma.

Conclusion:

Bringing stringent law is never enough to deter this kind of incidents here the implementation holds the key.

Topic: “Replanting Indian cotton”

In deatail:

India is the second largest producer of cotton.

This milestone had been possible because of the introduction on BT.cotton varieties.

Currently 95% of Indian cotton growing are through BT.cotton seeds.

It needs huge amount of fertilizers and irrigation facilities.

Monsanto a seed company which enjoys monopoly in this field.

Despite all these Indian cotton production is about 500/kg this was just one fourth of production of turkey and brazil which uses OP(open pollinated) variety of seeds.

Since the Genetic engineering approval committee(GEAC) which took over the process of BT.cotton approval the time taken approval had been reduced from three to one year but at the same time it also lead to increase in poor quality of hybrid seeds in the market.

Many of these inadequately tested hybrids were unsuited for the regions in which they were approved and hurt farmers and yield.

Indian hybrids were designed to be large and bushy unlike OP varieties which are short and straight. This meant that hybrids could not be planted in large varieties.

About GEAC:

Genetic Engineering Approval Committee (GEAC) established under MoEFCC is the apex body to accord notified under Rules 1989. For approval of activities involving large scale use of hazardous microorganisms and recombinants in research and industrial production from the environmental angle. The GEAC is also responsible for approval of proposals relating to release of genetically engineered organisms and products into the environment including experimental field trials.

Source:The hindu

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Topic: “New draft forest policy, 2018”

In detail:

Recently Ministry of Environment and forests had released draft forest policy.

This had been released after thirty years. Last report which was published in 1988.

In 2006 the new draft was released but soon it was withdrawn after heavy critic from environmentalists because this report didn’t have a mention of forest rights act,2006, which gives the right to dwelling communities around the forests.

Before going to the draft let us see the current forets cover in India which according to ministry it had been rised by 0.21% in 2017. At the same time more than 36000 hectares of land had been diverted for development purposes which means the forest that have been created as well as lost.

The draft also talked about turning the barren lands to forest lands through public-private partnership.

The previous NFPs were focused on production and revenue generation of forests (NFP, 1894 and NFP, 1952) and environmental stability and maintenance of ecological balance (NFP, 1988). NFP, 2018 talks about climate change mitigation through sustainable forest management.

To address the issue of climate change, NFP, 2018 contributes to the forestry-related Nationally Determined Contribution Targets and by integrating, “climate change mitigation and adaptation measures in forest management through the mechanism of REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation plus) so that the impacts of the climate change is minimised”.

Public private participation models will be developed for undertaking afforestation and reforestation activities in degraded forest areas and forest areas available with Forest Development Corporations and outside forests.

“The ecologically sensitive catchment areas shall be stabilized with suitable soil and water conservation measures, and also by planting suitable trees and grass like bamboo,” the draft suggests.

It also suggests setting up of two national-level bodies—National Community Forest Management (CFM) Mission and National Board of Forestry (NBF)—for better management of the country’s forests.

In an explanation, it says NBF needs to be headed by the central minister in charge of forests. The draft calls for state boards of forestry headed by state ministers in charge of forests to be established for ensuring inter-sectoral convergence, simplification of procedures, conflict resolution, among other things.

Forests influence, and in-turn are influenced by activities and functions of different sectors such as tribal affairs, mining, water, roads, tourism, agriculture, rural development, industry, irrigation and transmission lines etc. As far as community forest resources management under Forest Rights Act is concerned, the new policy will address the same under participatory forest management and the same will be addressed through the proposed community forest management mission,” the draft said.

It further noted that India has a rich and varied experience in participatory forest management and thus there is need to further strengthen this participatory approach, for which a National Community Forest Management (CFM) Mission will be launched.

“This mission will have a legal basis and an enabling operational framework. The national, state and local level development programmes shall be converged... All efforts to ensure synergy between gram sabha & JFMC (Joint Forest Management Committee) will be taken for ensuring successful community participation in forest management,” it added.

It stressed that “appropriate laws, rules and regulations, as per requirement, will be put in place and existing ones suitably amended for effective implementation of this policy.”

On the issue of finances required for management of forests, the draft stated that the compensatory afforestation fund which is being transferred to the states would be a major source of funds for taking up afforestation and rehabilitation works in degraded forest areas as well as for bringing new areas under forest and tree cover.

“Efforts for tapping funds from other national sectors like rural development, tribal affairs, national highways, railways, coal, mines, power, etc., will be taken for appropriate implementation of linking greening with infrastructure and other development activities,” it added.

The draft National Forest Policy says the objective of the latest version is to safeguard the ecological and livelihood security of people, of present and future generations, based on sustainable management of the forests for the flow of ecosystem services. It continues with the target of having 33% of India’s geographical area under forest and tree cover and in the hills and mountainous regions, the aim will be to maintain two-thirds of the area under forest and tree cover.

At present, India’s forest and tree cover is estimated to be 802,088 sq. km, which is about 24.39% of the country’s total geographical area.

The 2018 draft also calls for “promotion of trees outside forests and urban greens”, while stating that it will be taken up in “mission mode”.

It addressed the issue of forest fires, stating that “adequate measures would be taken to safeguard ecosystems from forest fires, map the vulnerable areas and develop and strengthen early warning systems and methods to control fire, based on remote sensing technology and community participation.”

It emphasized on integrating climate change concerns into forest management while noting that forests acts as a natural sink of carbon dioxide thereby assisting in climate change mitigation.

“Climate change concerns will be factored in all the forest and wildlife areas working/management plans and Community Ecosystem Management Plans,” the draft said.

The policy also stressed that “wildlife rich areas and corridors outside protected areas would be identified and maintained for ensuring ecological and genetic continuity.”

To tackle rising human-wildlife conflict, the draft outlined short-term and long-term actions.

“Quick response, dedicated teams of well equipped and trained personnel, mobility, strong interface with health and veterinary services, rescue centres, objective and speedy assessment of damage and quick payment of relief to the victims would be at the core of the short-term action. Monitoring and management of population of wildlife would be adopted on a long-term basis within and outside forests for maintaining the balance,” the draft added.

Source: the hindhu, live mint, down to earth

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Indian National centre for ocean information services(INCOIS)

Why in news?

Incois warned fisherman along the kerala coast.

About :

Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) is an autonomous organization of the Government of India,

It comes under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, located ,Hyderabad.

Source: The hindhu

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Facts:

* Sohagi barwa wildlife sanctuary located in Uttar Pradesh.

22^nd April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

Impeachment motion against SC judge:

Why in news?

Opposition parties had initiated Impeacement motion against Chief Justice of India (CJI).

Background:

The move by the opposition had started just after the verdict on the death of former CBI court judge Loya who handled the sohrabuddin fake encounter case in Gujarat. The verdict had acquitted all accused in this case including Amit shah. The main accused in this case is BJP chief Amit shah who is currently the National president of the BJP.

About Impeachment motion against the CJI:

This is for the First time impeachment motion to be moved against the Chief Justice of India. In earlier occasions the motion had been moved against SC judges and the judges of the High courts and Chief Justice of the states.

As Per Article 124(4) of the constitution, President can remove a judge on "proved misbehaviour or incapacity" .

when parliament approves with a majority of the total membership of each house in favour of impeachment and not less than two thirds of the members of each house present.

For initiating impeachment proceedings against a judge, at least 50 members of Rajya Sabha or 100 members of Lok Sabha shall issue the notice as per judges (inquiry) act,1968.

Then a judicial committee would be formed to frame charges against the judge, to conduct the fair trial and to submit its report to parliament.

When the judicial committee report finds the judge guilty of misbehaviour or incapacity, further removal proceedings would be taken up by the parliament if the judge is not resigning himself.

The judge upon proven guilty is also liable for punishment as per applicable laws or for contempt of the constitution by breaching the oath under disrespecting constitution.

Source: the hindu

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Fugitive economic offenders bill, 2018:

Why in news?

Cabinet had given nod to fugitive economic offenders bill.

Background:

The bill got significance after the PNB scam where the accused Nirav modi and mehul chokshi who fled the country after the scam had proposed.

Government finds it difficult to bring these offenders to court of justice due to many legal procedures. If the bill is implemented then the asset of the offenders will be confiscated even though they fled the country. Similar rules are followed in many countries all across the world.

About the bill:

The benefit of the ordinance:

The ordinance is expected to re-establish the rule of law as the accused will be forced to return to India and face trial for his offences. This would also help the banks and other financial institutions to achieve higher recovery from financial defaults committed by such fugitive economic offenders, improving the financial health of such institutions.

The impact of the ordinance:

It is expected that the creation of a special forum for a speedy confiscation of the proceeds of crime, in India or abroad, would force the fugitive to return to India to submit to the jurisdiction of courts in India to face the law in respect of scheduled offences.

Strategy for implementation and targets:

The ordinance makes provisions for a court (‘Special Court’ under the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002) to declare a person as a ‘Fugitive Economic Offender.’ A Fugitive Economic Offender is a person against whom an arrest warrant has been issued in respect of a scheduled offence and who has left India so as to avoid criminal prosecution, or being abroad, refuses to return to India to face criminal prosecution. A scheduled offence refers to a list of economic offences contained in the Schedule to this Ordinance. Further, in order to ensure that courts are not over-burdened with such cases, only those cases where the total value involved in such offences is 100 crore rupees or more, is within the purview of this ordinance.

Other provisions under the ordinance:

(i) making an application before the special court for a declaration that an individual is a fugitive economic offender;

(ii) attachment of the property of a fugitive economic offender and proceeds of crime;

(iii) issue of a notice by the special court to the individual alleged to be a fugitive economic offender;

(iv) confiscation of the property of an individual declared as a fugitive economic offender or even the proceeds of crime;

(v) disentitlement of the fugitive economic offender from defending any civil claim; and

(vi) appointment of an administrator to manage and dispose of the confiscated property under the act.

If at any point of time in the course of the proceeding prior to the declaration, however, the alleged Fugitive Economic Offender returns to India and submits to the appropriate jurisdictional court, proceedings under the proposed Act would cease by law. All necessary constitutional safeguards in terms of providing hearing to the person through counsel, allowing him time to file a reply, serving notice of summons to him, whether in India or abroad and appeal to the high court have been provided for.

The expenditure incurred:

Since the approved law would utilise the existing infrastructure of the special courts constituted under the Prevention of Money-laundering Act, 2002 (PMLA) and the threshold of scheduled offence is high at Rs 100 crore or more, no additional expenditure is expected on the enactment of the ordinance.

Source: The hindu, Indian express

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USA raises spectre of Russian sanctions :

Why in news?

US defence sources said that India was not immune to the sanctions imposed by USA against Russia.

In detail:

Recently due to alleged chemical attack by Russian led Syrian government forces against the rebel group supported by USA.

USA, France and U.K launched missle attack targeted against the scientific laboratories which is alleged that lab is used for manufacturing chemical weapons.

In addition to this, the USA had imposed sanctions against Russian entities under the Countering America’s Adversaries through Sanctions act (CAATSA).

About CAATSA:

According section 231 of the act, any country or entity that carries out “transactions with intelligence or defence sectors” of the Russian government would face sanctions from the USA.

62% of our military hardwares are imported from Russia.

India’s response:

Foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale and India’s top defence sources have conveyed their objections to USA. India’s ambassador to USA are also in talks with the government of USA.

India also feels that the sanctions had not only has political dimension but also economic dimension which means by this way USA is discouraging India to not buying weapons from Russia and in turn selling their products to India.

Source: the hindu

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Death penalty for raping minors:

Why in news?

Recently in unnao and kathua minor girls are raped and this incident have created a public outcry all over the country. The pressure from the public have led the government to issue an ordinance to give death penalty to minors.

Amendments had been made to criminal procedure, the protection of children from sexual offences act (POCSO) and Indian evidence act.

In detail:

As per the ordinance for the crime of rape of a minor girl under the age of 12 years will amounts to 20 years or life imprisionment or death for a rape of a girl under 12 years.

For the crime of rape of a girl under the age of 16 years, minimum punishment has been increased from 10 years to 20 years, which can be extended to imprisionment for the rest of life.

Minimum punishment for the rape of a women has also increased from rigorous imprisionment of 7 years to 10 years.

It provides for the speedy investigation and trial which must be completed in two months. There will be no provision for anticipatory bail for a person accused of rape of a girl under 16 years.

Apart from this to improve the capacity of the judicial system, the government plans to set up new fast track courts, special forsenic labs exclusively for rape cases, forsenic kits for rape cases at all police stations.

Source: the hindu

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Vitiligo or leucoderma:

Why in news?

DRDO had developed medicine for this disease which had an good result in 300 and 400 days.

About Vitiligo:

It is nothing more than a skin condition and it can be seen as patches or as dots on the skin.

It is not life threatening .

It is neither contagious.

DRDO had developed Lukoskin, a medicine which on regular use will help in the reduction of the original skin color of the person who uses it.

The dosage lasts between 300 and 400 days to have a complete impact.

Source: the hindu

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India’s expedition to Antartica:

Why in news?

India’s scientific expedition goes back to 1981. Recent incidents of death of an Indian scientist in the research station shows how our scientist are working under hardship.

About the expedition:

India had two research station in Antartica namely maithri and the other is Bharthi both are located at a distance which takes 7 day journey.

India is expediting through Russian made ship known as m.v.ivan Papin.

India still does not have an indigenous icebreaker. India’s plans to acquire a 1000 crore polar research vehicle(PRV) a ship that can cut through ice sheets and glaciers has been on avil since 2005.

Source: the hindu

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Indian ocean Naval Symposium:

Why in news?

Chief of Indian navy admiral Sunil lamba had arrived in Iran to attend IONS meeting.

About IONS:

The IONS was conceived by the Indian Navy in 2008.

OBJECTIVE:

The forum seeks to enhance maritime cooperation among navies of the littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by providing an open and inclusive forum for discussion on regionally relevant maritime issues that would lead to common understanding on the way ahead.

In detail:

The inaugural edition of IONS was held in February 2008 at New Delhi, with Indian Navy as the Chair for two years. This was followed by UAE from 2010 - 2012, South Africa from 2012 - 2014, Australia from 2014 - 2016 and Bangladesh from 2016 - 2018.

Members of the group are:

Sub region	Nation	Accession
South Asian	Bangladesh
	India	February 2008
	Maldives
	Pakistan	March 2014
	Seychelles
	Sri Lanka
West Asian	Iran
	Oman
	Saudi Arabia
	UAE
	Bahrain
	Iraq
	Kuwait
	Qatar
	Yemen
East African	France
	Kenya
	Mauritius
	Mozambique
	South Africa
	Tanzania
	Djibouti
	Egypt
	Eriteria
	Comoros
	Madagascar
	Somali
	Sudan
South East Asian and Australian	Australia
	Indonesia
	Malaysia
	Myanmar
	Singapore
	Thailand
	Timor Leste

Observers:

There are nine states with observer status: China, Germany, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Netherlands, Russia and Spain.

Source:IONS, the hindhu

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HAJ PILGRIMAGE:

Why in news?

Record number of pilgrims say 1.75 lakh had been given permission to visit the pilgrimage among them 47% are women.

What is the Haj subsidy?

The Haj subsidy refers to discounted airfares given by the government-owned airlines, Air India. It also includes assistance to Muslim pilgrims for domestic travel to reach specially designed Haj departure airport terminals, lodging, medical care and meal. Originally, the subsidy was given on air fares of flights between Bombay and Jeddah. Later, additional flight legs were added to the subsidy list. Since 1984, all the traffic for Haj from India to Saudi Arabia has been shared between Air India and Saudi, both of which are the government funded carriers of their respective countries.

The amount charged from each pilgrim after the subsidy varies depending on the category of accommodation and airport charges from the point of embarkation. After the 2012 Supreme Court order to phase out the subsidy in the next ten years, the government had been steadily declining the amount of subsidy offered to Haj pilgrims each year. In 2014, the subsidised air fare charged for Haj, per pilgrim was Rs. 35,000, while the actual amount was anything between Rs. 63,750 and Rs. 1,64,350 depending on the point of boarding. By 2016, the amount paid by each pilgrim had risen to Rs. 45,000. In 2017, the Haj subsidy was cut down by almost 50 per cent of the expected cost.

When was the Haj subsidy started?

The Haj subsidy was first introduced in 1932 when the British government provided for a government funded Haj committee and named Bombay and Calcutta as two ports from where Muslims could embark upon their pilgrimage. The Haj Committees Act along with the Muslim Personal Law were enacted by the government to fulfill Muslim demands in the pre-Partition days. Post independence, in 1959 the government replaced the previous Act. According to the new Act, a committee was created in Bombay to take care of all affairs of the pilgrims, including travel arrangements during the pilgrimage and to cover overhead expenses.

The Committee Act was further modified in 1973 when the mode of travel to Saudi Arabia was changed from sea to air, owing to rising oil prices. Accordingly, the government also increased subsidy to cover the difference between sea and air fares. Till 1995, about 5,000 pilgrims used to travel by sea, while around 19,000 used to travel by air each year. However, in 1995 sea travel was completely discarded and all pilgrims had to use air transport.

What are the criticisms against the Haj subsidy?

The Haj subsidy has come under heavy criticism, particularly because of the monopoly formed by Air India in carrying out the pilgrimage. Allegedly, the government subsidies have resulted in major profits for Air India, benefiting the airlines far more than the pilgrims. According to several critics of the subsidy, if booked months in advance, it is possible to buy cheaper air tickets, thereby doing away with the need for subsidy. Some of the political parties have also called the subsidy as minority appeasement.

What are the other religious pilgrimages that are offered government subsidy in India?

The Haj is not the only religious pilgrimage being funded by the State. A number of other religious tours are supported by the government. For instance, the state and central governments spend considerable amounts on the pilgrim facilities at the four Kumbh melas in Haridwar, Ujjain, Nashik and Allahabad. The Kailash Manasarovar yatra from North India to the mountains of Tibet is yet another pilgrimage which is organised by the government with arrangements being made for security and health facilities. Last week, the Uttarakhand government agreed to increase subsidy for the Mansarovar pilgrims from Rs 25,000 to Rs 30,000.

There are many “first” this time:

This is the large group of people are visiting Haj.

This is the first Haj pilgrimage without subsidy from the government. This comes after SC asked center to end the Haj subsidy by 2020.

This is for the first time 1034 women are allowed to go to pilgrimage without “mehram”(male companion).

making the Haj process completely online/ digital has helped to make the entire Haj process transparent and pro-pilgrims

For the first time, Female Haj Assistants will be deployed to monitor various facilities for women Haj pilgrims.

Saudi Arabia has given green signal for India’s decision to reviving the option of sending Haj pilgrims through sea route also and officials from both the countries are in discussion on all the necessary formalities and technicalities so that Haj pilgrimage through sea route can be started in the coming years.

Source: the Indian express, the hindhu

21^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

National Disaster Management Authority(NDMA):

Why in news?

NDMA forcasted fishermen should keep off sea.

NDMA:

On 23 December 2005, the Government of India enacted the Disaster Management Act, which envisaged the creation of National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), headed by the Prime Minister, and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs) headed by respective Chief Ministers, to spearhead and implement a holistic and integrated approach to Disaster Management in India.

NDMA VISION:

To build a safer and disaster resilient India by a holistic, pro-active, technology driven and sustainable development strategy that involves all stakeholders and fosters a culture of prevention, preparedness and mitigation.

It comes under Ministry of Home affairs.

Source: the hindhu

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Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA):

Why in news?

Cabinet approves the restructured Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan

News in detail:

Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) is a revamped version of Rajiv Gandhi Panchayat Shashaktikaran Abhiyan (RGPSA) and covers various projects to strengthen the Panchayati Raj system in the country. The scheme seeks to:

Enhance capacities and effectiveness of Panchayats and the Gram Sabhas;

Enable democratic decision-making and accountability in Panchayats and promote people’s participation;

Strengthen the institutional structure for knowledge creation and capacity building of Panchayats;

Promote devolution of powers and responsibilities to Panchayats according to the spirit of the Constitution and PESA Act;

Strengthen Gram Sabhas to function effectively as the basic forum of peoples participation, transparency and accountability within the Panchayat system;

Create and strengthen democratic local self-government in areas where Panchayats do not exist;

Strengthen the constitutionally mandated framework on which Panchayats are founded.

Currently, the scheme is proposed to be launched so that the Panchayati Raj Institutions develop governance capabilities to deliver on the sustainable development goals. Source: the hindhu

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Mission Antyodaya:

About:

Mission Antyodaya is a convergence framework for measurable effective outcomes on parameters that transform lives and livelihoods. Real Difference comes about through Convergence as it alone simultaneously addresses multi dimensions of poverty. Professionals, Institutions and Enterprises make it possible.

1. Evidence of convergence reducing poverty, raising incomes - IRMA Study.

2. Communitization' through Women SHGs improves education, health, nutrition indicators

3. Saturation approach creates many more 'islands of success'

4. Leveraging Bank loans promotes an enterprise model.

5. Many initiatives provide for universal coverage of the eligible beneficiaries - Ujwala, internet, Bank accounts.

6. Integral positive co-relation among infrastructure, human development and sustainable economic well-being.

7. 5000 islands of successful Rural Clusters over 1000 days will be transformational.

Source: the hindhu

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Editorial:

Toipic: “The Bakherwal’s long walk”

Itroduction:l

Bakherwals are nomadic community living in Jammu and Kashmir. The community was recently in headlines after the rape of 8 yr old Bakherwal girl in J&K.

In detail:

Bkherwal constitute 23.4 lakh in the state of J&K. This constitute around 11.9% of J&K population.

They are the third largest linguistic group after kashmiri and dogri speakers.

There are two largest linguistic group in pir panjal, Chenab valley, Kashmir valley and Jammu are Gojri and Pahari speakers. The Gojri speakers fall into sub-groups Bakherwals and Gujjars, both Sunni muslim communities.

The Bakherwals migrate from Kashmir valley to the plains and hilly areas of Jammu in winters and return to Kashmir during Winters.

The Gujjars are more rooted . Many of them own farm land in the farm land in the Pir panjal valley, Chenab valley, Kashmir valley and make a livelihood by raising milch cattle.

Female literacy in the community is just 25.5% far below the national average of 34.8% among the tribal women.

Bakherwal consider themselves as a children of nature that is why many of them don’t know their age or date on which they they born.

Bakerwal and Gujjars have trained of defence to defend their community from influence of militancy. Gujjars and Bakherwals are the backbone of the army.

Gujjar constitute 4-5% in kathua and its adjoining areas. They completely rejected that their population will not alter the demography of Jammu where Hindhus are in majority.

Forest rights act,2006 are not extended to Jammu and Kashmir so no one from the community can claim ownership rights in the forest land. BJP leaders taking advantage of this and are evicting the Bakherwal community from their home land in forest areas and launced the enclosure drive of the forest land. (BJP is a coalition partner in Jammu ND Kashmir with PDP. When Mehbooba Mufti try to bring to extend the forest rights act to J&K it was thwarted by BJP as they think that giving them the settlement will change the demography in J&K especially Jammu region.

Conclusion:

Bakherwal’s are peaceful community living in the region of J&K for long but the recent incident of rape had flared the communal fire in the region.

Political should try flare down the communal flare and should bring peace in the region.

Source: the hindhu

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Topic: Prosperity in the 21^st century

In detail:

These days we are focussing more on inequality more than than poverty.

Poverty and Inequality is completely different from poverty issue. To reduce inequality we can tax the rich more than the poor.

Poverty in India had substantially reduced from 400 million to 270 million due to the faster growth in early 2000. This was because due to high growth in these years due to 4% growth in Agriculture due to good monsoon. From this it was very clear that the growth in agriculture sector leads to reduction in poverty. The development is known only by the reduction in poverty. So government should focus more on agriculture to make India a Poverty free country.

Source: the hindhu

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FACTS:

1)India-Finland agreed to end the tax dispute which Nokia had filed. Nokia had agreed to pay 1600 crore tax which Income tax department claims.

2) One of the reason Indian PM participated in Commenwealth meeting was to reach out to small states in many of them India doesn’t even have a diplomatic presence. 60% of Commonwealth members are smaller states. They hold key in UN when there is some issue on voting.

3) NCRB data shows that among the cases filed under the SC/ST act only 10% cases are false. But at the same time atrocities against SC/ST’s keep on rising which means law on SC/ST have to be strengthend rather than weakened. The rule on aniticipatory bill need to be accepted because innocent persons should not be put in jail which is guaranteed under article 21 and 22. It might have been more appropriate to have delicate balance between penal laws and the protection of civil liberties rather than weakening the law.

The above was related to the recent SC judgement in Subash kashinath Mahajan vs State of Maharastra.

3)pushpagiri:

The school in Pushpagiri was established in the 3rd century AD as present Odisha, India. As of 2007, the ruins of this Mahavihara had not yet been fully excavated. Consequently, much of the Mahavihara's history remains unknown. Of the three Mahavihara campuses, The Chinese traveller Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang), who visited it in AD 639, as Puphagiri Mahavihara,as well as in medieval Tibetan texts. However, unlike Takshila and Nalanda, the ruins of Pushpagiri were not discovered until 1995, when a lecturer from a local college first stumbled upon the site.The task of excavating Pushpagiri's ruins, stretching over 58 hectares (143 acres) of land, was undertaken by the Odisha Institute of Maritime and South East Asian Studies between 1996 and 2006. It is now being carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).The Nagarjunakonda inscriptions also mention about this learning center.

4) Online dispute resolution mechamism introduced by Ministry of law and justice.

The disputes are addressed through mediation, arbitration and conciliation Which would attract more investment in to our country.

Source: the hindhu

20^thApril 2018 Daily Current Affairs

Defence planning committee(DPC):

Why in news?

National security advisor will head the DPC says government notification.

News in detail:

This is for the first time NSA is going to head the DPC.

Some of the defence experts hails it will help improve India’s defence planning in the long run, but some criticizes the move saying that it gave NSA an unprecedented role in the process of planning India’s security.

About DPC:

Its role is to prepare a draft on National security.

Develop a capability plan and work on Defence diplomacy issues and improving defence manufacturing in India.

The committee will have the Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, three service chiefs, secretaries of the Ministries of Defence, Expenditure and Foreign Affairs as its members.

The Chief of Integrated Staff in the Defence Ministry will be the member secretary of the DPC, and his headquarters will be the secretariat.

The committee will submit the report to Ministry of Defence.

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Deal on illegal immigrants:

Why in news?

Before the visit of PM Modi’s visit to U.K to attend the commonwealth of the group meeting ministry of state for home affairs Kiren rijuju visited U.K and MOU had been signed to complete the process of identifying “illegal immigrants” within 70-day .

News in detail:

Britain alleges most of them came from India. There were two kinds of “illegal immigrants” one is those whose information are available with the British authorities and other is those whose information are not available with the British authorities but presumed to be Indians. According to the MOU signed the former have to be deported with 15 days and the latter have to be deported within 70-day.

There is also a demand that Britain extend to India an ongoing pilot scheme in China offering cheaper and longer duration visas. The deal was expected to be signed during Modi’s visit to Britain but unfortunately the deal had not been finalized.

Conclusion:

According to officials “illegal immigration” should not become a barrier to “legal immigration”.

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USA to restrict travel of Pakisthani dipliomats:

Why in news?

USA restricted the Pakisthani diplomats within 40 km radius if they want to go beyond 40 km they want to get permission from authorities of USA.

News in detail:

This step was taken after Pakisthan had restricted US diplomats not to travel to tribal areas and also Karachi region. If the diplomats wish to go they want to get permission from Pakisthani authorities.

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The aadhar act had given privacy,says SC:

Why in news?

SC judge Chandrachud said Aadhar does not record caste or race which shows that the act has given privacy.

News in detail:

Nine judge constitution bench headed by Justice chandrachud delivered the historic verdict last year that privacy is a natural right that inhers in human beings.

Petitioner who files in the SC against Aadhar act clarifies that demographic details like address,etc had been shared which affects the privacy of the person concerned.

To this SC judge clarified that demographic identification had four levels they are demographics, optional demographics, biometrics and core biometrics like finger prints and iris scans. According to judge apart from core demographics none of the privacy has been affected.These statements are part of ongoing hearings on the constitutionality of Aadhar act.

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High security number plates:

Why in news?

Ministry of Road transport and highways had released a draft report which makes it mandatory for vehicle manufactures to fix the High security registration plate(HSRP) on “all kinds” of vehicles hitting the road from Jan 1,2019 which offers tamper proof security against theft.

Snapshot of security features:

FACTS:

1. No commercial driving license needed for taxis and autos if they hold a private license. The circular came from ministry of road,transport and highways after the SC had given the similar kind of judgement earlier.

EDITORIAL:

TOPIC: “The Hadiya caution”

Introduction:

Akhila alias Hadiya who hails from kerala was born to Hindhu family was aged 24 had married Shafin jahan who also from kerala. Her father files Habeous corpus case in the High court(HC) of Kerala which heared the case had annulled their marriage on “moral grounds”

In detail:

The HC of Kerala excercised “parens patriae” jurisdiction which concerned about her age and it said that it is the duty of the court to ensure the safety of the girl only to ensure that Akhila is in safe hands.

Then the case was referred to Supreme court(SC) by Shafin jahan .

Initially the SC had asked the report from NIA(National investigation agency which deals with terror related cases) on the allegation which is made by her father that “she will soon be transported out” of the country by her husband to join the terror groups like ISIS.

SC after hearing all the arguments gave an verdict which says that

1. The court ruled against the Habeous corpus case filed by her father because it will go against the essence of the Habeous corpus which had its origin British common law. The idea behind the habeous corpus will be to direct the detainee’s presence in court so as to help the court understand for the person’s imprisionment. But in this case it was clear that Hadiya an adult woman who can make her own choice had married on her own choice so there was no case of detainment in this case.

2. It SC in its judement states that it is obligatory to state here that expression of choice in accordance with law is accepatance of individual identity. Curtailment of that expression will destroy the individual entity of a person . the social values and morals have their place but they are not above the constitutionally guaranteed freedom

3. The court also clarified that the state, which includes judiciary can not interfere in the matters of personal foundation in a bid to enforce a collective ethical judgement.

Conclusion:

Finally SC had not only renwed their marriage and made it clear that the state machineries should not interfere in individual freedom of a person guaranteed under the constitution.

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Topic: “Marginalised from school”

Introduction :

Preamble to the constitution states that the democratic, republic of India shall secure social,economic and political justice. Education is important to achieve this end.

Directive principle of state policy which says that the children should get the right to access to education and the 86^th constitutional amendment and the RTE(Right to education)act which dictates its implementation.

In detail:

In the recently held budget session, Shashi tharoor an M.P from kerala had got a reply to his” unstarred question”(this rule mandates the concerned minister(here is the Human resource and development minister(HRD)) to give a reply in writting)

He got a shocking reply in which it shows how the center and some of the states are not serious in the implementation of the act.

The reply which shows that five states (goa, Manipur, Mizoram, Sikkim and Telengana) have not even notified regarding admission under RTE act.

The RTE act mandates that 25% total seats allotted by the Private school for the children aged between 6 and 14. The center will bear the cost of the seat allotted to these children. This had enabled economically marginalized communities to access high quality private schools.

According to this act state government had to notify the cost of per children. Once it is calculated the center will disburse the funds based on number seats allotted.

But currently almost 20 states still not notified per-child cost means center had not disbursed the amount.

Even many states had not even replied to the question on how many number of students had admitted under the scheme. Then data received from the state which had given information about number of students it was known that around 5-6 lakh people are enrolled under the scheme annually out of around 20 lakh students who are eligible for the scheme.

Conclusion:

As this involves the future of children the central government should convene a meeting of education ministers of states and should review the act.

19^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

1) UK-India relationship:

Why in news?

PM Modi was in London to attend Commenwealth Heads of the group meeting. On the sidelines of the meeting PM Modi held bilateral talks with British PM therasa may.

Background:

Though people of India still reminds about the “evils of colonialism” the relationship between UK-India have not affected by this. The relationship between one of the Worlds oldest and largest democracies in the world have improved many folds after independence. There is bipartisian support for this relationship in both the countries. People-people relationship makes the relationship even more stronger. Indian diaspora plays a very important role in the relationship. Dadabhai naorojee who is an first asian to become the member of House of Commons. Indian diaspora led several movements in Britain which created awareness about the plight of Indians under colonial rule. There was about over a million Indian-born U.K citizens living in Britain. India is the third largest investor in U.K and invests more than the any of the EU countries combined. India conglomerate Tata groups bought Jaguar which is an biggest buy in U.K automobile industry. U.K is also the largest trading partner of India. Tata groups alone employs over a lakh of U.K citizens. India had also very strong defence relationship. More than 800 Indian companies operate in Britain.

India’s first aircraft carrier Viraat is brought from England(which was decommissioned now)which shows how old the defence relationship between two countries. India which homes to largest English speakers in the world and deomocracy which naturally make the relationship closer. U.K (permenant member of United Nations) work closely with India on several issues affecting globally and also domestic. U.K is one of those countries which strongly supports India’s permenant membership in united nations. India and U.K also members in many groups such as Commenwealth, United Nations, G-20.

Key takeaways from Modi’s visit to U.K:

1) PM Modi made it clear that India-U.K relationship will not get affected Post-Brexit.

2) India strongly supports Multilateral groupings and globilisation and opposed to Protectionsionist measures which some countries(USA) is currently advocating. The same view was echoed by U.K

3) Both countries supports free flow of trade in Indo-pacific subject to International rules based order. This was at the time China is claiming almost all areas in south china sea which is located in Indo-pacific.

4) PM also discussed about the issue of economic offenders like Vijay mallya and others who was escaped to U.K after offending Indian laws.

Source: The Hindu

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2) Coastal regulation zones(CRZ):

Why in news?

Ministry of Environment, forests and climate change released New rules for CRZ after amending the existing rules,2011.

Background:

India has a very long coastal lines close to about 7,500kms starting from Gujarat in the west to West Bengal in the east and it also host to two large group of islands such as Andaman and Nicobar located in Bay of Bengal and Lakshadweep in the Arabian sea.

There are close to around 250 million coastal communities living in India.

The coastal areas gives livelihood to about 7 million households.

Coastal Regulation Zone(CRZ)

CRZ was notified by Govt of India in 1991, Under the Environment Protection Act, 1986 of India.for regulation of activities in the coastal area by the Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF).

As per the notification, the coastal land up to 500m from the High Tide Line (HTL) and a stage of 100m along banks of creeks, estuaries, backwater and rivers subject to tidal fluctuations, is called the Coastal Regulation Zone(CRZ). CRZ along the country has been placed in four categories. The above notification includes only the inter-tidal zone and land part of the coastal area and does not include the ocean part. The notification imposed restriction on the setting up and expansion of industries or processing plaits etc. in the said CRZ. Under this coastal areas have been classified as CRZ-1, CRZ-2, CRZ-3,CRZ-4. And the same they retained for CRZ in 2003 notifications as well.

• CRZ-1: these are ecologically sensitive areas these are essential in maintaining ecosystem of the coast. They lie between low and high tide line. Exploration of natural gas and extraction of salt are permitted

• CRZ-2: these areas form up to the shore line of the coast. Unauthorised structures are not allowed to construct in this zone.

• CRZ-3: rural and urban localities which fall outside the 1 and 2. Only certain activities related to agriculture even some public facilities are allowed in this zone

• CRZ-4: this lies in aquatic area up to territorial limits. Fishing and allied activities are permitted in this zone. Solid waste should be let off in this zone.

CRZ,2018:

The Rules amended the CRZ,2011.The committee headed by Shailash Nayak, former secretary Ministry of Earth sciences had framed the rules.

Source: The Hindu

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3) Foreign minister of Nepal’s visit to China and its significance:

Why in news?

After the new government came to power in Nepal first high level visit from Nepal government to China.

Significance of the visit:

China proposed to have an understanding between India to have an Trilateral agreement comprises of India, China and Nepal. China for a long time wants India to be a part of Belt and Road Initiative (BRI)(India is the only major country opposed the BRI).

India for a long fear about the Chinese influence in the Nepal. Nepal which is sandwitched between India and China suffers due to the rivalry between India and Nepal.

Chinese proposal which shows that China does not want confrontation with India over its development works in Nepal.

Conclusion:

India should stop suspicion on all activities which are taken by China. If Nepal grows and attains stability it is line with traditional policy of India over development in Nepal.

Source: The Hindu

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4) National commission for minority Educational institutions(NCMEI):

Why in news?

The Supreme court had clarified that NCMEI has jurisdiction to determine minority status.

Background:

The Constitution under article 30 had granted a fundamental right to all minorities whether based on religion or language to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.

In 2004 NCMEI was established by an act of ordinance. In 2005 it was replaced by an NCMEI act.

In 2006 an amendment to the act even conferred powers of appeal against orders of the competent authority to the NCMEI.

News in detail:

The Supreme court held that NCMEI could declare an establishment as a minority educational institutions “at all stages”.

By this judgement SC had restored the confidence of the minorities.

Source: The Hindu

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5) National clean energy programme(NCEP):

Why in news?

The programme was unveiled recently to reduce air pollution in specified cities.

About NCEP:

The programme aims to reduce 35% of pollution in 3 years and 50% of pollution in five years.

For this government aims to set up 1000 manual air-monitoring centres and 268 automatic stations.

The scheme will be implemented by Ministry of Environment,forest and climate change.

Source: The Hindu

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Editorial:

Topic: “Is Indian economy really that strong?”

In detail:

Indian economy is growing at currently more than 7% which is greater than China due to foundations are strong like inflation is under control, foreign exchange reserves are in comfortable $420 billion, current account defecit had come down to just 1.5%.

Will this growth sustain for a long time?

All these growth projections are mainly due to the steep fall in commodity prices like food and oil. If the price of the oil again increases the picture shown above will see a “sea change” because it had reduced huge burden on the government annual finance statement (general budget).

When the price of the oil in at all time high in 2013 at around $110/litre GOI had spent huge amount of tax payers money(budget) to give subsidy to oil companies to keep the price rate of the oil at reasonable so that consumers should not be burdened.

Rise in the price of oil had increased the inflation because consumer had to spend large amount out of the pocket to buy fuel.

This rise had also led to the decrease in foreign exchange reserves which were at the lower level in 2013 and now it was at the peak at around $423 billion.

So once the price of the oil in the international market goes to previous level then it will be difficult to sustain the growth rate.

Rate of growth of investment which were 35% in 2014 were came down to 30%.

Industrial production which was at the 6% in 2016 were came down to just 2% in 2017 just after the demonitisation.

What are the steps government have to do to sustain the growth rate?

Government must not depend only on the OPEC for its energy use. It has to diversify its source market where they get the oil at the competitive rate or negotiate with the OPEC countries to remove the “Asian Premium” which is the traditional practice of the OPEC to fix certain amount as premium which raises the cost of the oil than the western countries because they don’t pay any premium.

Government must use this opportunity of lower oil prices and have to take the steps to fill “strategic reserves” where the oil is stored and it will be used during emergency times or use that to control the import of oil once the price of the oil is higher.

Government should take effective policy measures to attract investment in Upstream(production) so that import of oil will be reduced.

Government should leverage this opportunity and make people aware of renewable vehicles like e-vehicles and should reduce the GST rate and increase the adoption of usage of e-vehicles among the government departments and make some policy measures to make this sector more attractive.

2) Topic:

In Xian BRI’s city of hope

INTRODUCTION:

Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is an ambitious infrastructure project by Chinese government through road known as “silk road economic belt” as well as through sea known as “Maritime silk road”. The project aims to increase the regional connectivity and embrace brighter future.

In detail:

The Government of china to spend trillions of dollars for this project.

Critics view:

Critics view this project as an attempt by china to reduce its overcapacity which it created during golden years of china where it experienced double digit growth over 3 decades.

Since the slowdown in 2008 the project that had been built over three years had not been sold leads to lower growth or cooling period as some economists calls.

China also accumulated large amount of dollars(about 3 trillion) because of high surplus in trade due to manufacturing boom in china.

Chinese government decided to spend these foreign reserves in a big way then introduced the BRI.

Why India didn’t participate in BRI?

According Indian government the project lacks the transparency in spending of amount, high rate of interest, sovereignity issues(India opposes CPEC project which passes through Pakisthan occupied Kashmir which India claims it as its territory), debt payments should be made easier for the countries.

Now even European countries are also realizing the impact of BRI and coming out in open and calling the Chinese government to clarify certain issues especially regarding transparency in implementing these projects.

Conclusion:

India while opposing BRI always cited the example of Srilanka where the large amount of Chinese loan with high rate of interest had been spent in unsustainable projects which now made the Srilanka debt ridden country where 80% of its debt owes to China.

So investment made by China should be transparent and it should be in the choice of the home country where the amount is invested.

Debt payments should be made easier that is giving longer time to repay the amount, lower rate of interest etc.

If these changes have not been done means the critics will see these project only with the “suspicion”.

3)topic:

The soft power of India:

In detail:

During Nehru’s tenure we had not attained the fame globally due to our economic or military powers. It was our approach of soft power that guided us and make us fame globally.

Hard power is needed to some extent but it should not be sole power to we should use in diplomacy.

Even to claim ourselves as a regional power we should use more soft power than hard power.

When we are economically strong then only we can increase our military strength. So we should not entangled by the words of other countries praising India as next super power and selling their arms to India. We should have a strong army indeed but we should concentrate more on how to increase the growth of the economy not on to increase the defence budget.

Our policy should not influenced more by the world politics. It is only to some extent but we should concentrate more how to reduce the poverty level in our country.

Lot of talk about Quad where USA,India,Japan,Australia as members of the group. If the group is only for deleberations on some issues it will be better but if it is a kind of alliance against any country then it will spiral into increase into defence budget and then it will ultimately affect the economy at large.

Conclusion:

India have to go a long way to realize the goal of poverty less country. so we should concentrate more on how to increase the growth of the country rather focusing on other international issues.

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Facts:

1) Trumps highest official visited Pyongyang. The visit was planned as to prepare before the possible meeting between the Trump and the Kim jong-un head of the state of North korea.

2) Miguel Diaz-canel was the Cuba’s first Non-castro leader elected by the cuban parliament since 1959 revolution.

3) National portal to share the research facilities will soon be unveiled.

Soon researches from any universities, colleges can check, reserve in the portal if they want to make use of research facilities anywhere in India.

It will provide access to researchers to any equipment or facility that has been procured using public funds.

The portal will help to reduce the cost of research in India.

4) Ranthampore national park located in Rajasthan.

18^thApril 2018 Daily Current Affairs

1) ICJ (International court of justice):

Why in news?

India files reply at ICj in Kulbhusan Jadhav case

Background:

Last year former Indian Navy official Jadhav was arrested by Pakisthan agencies when he ambigiously crossed Indian border. Pakisthan agencies claims Jadhav as an Indian spy who crossed the border to instigate terror activities in Baluchisthan state in Pakisthan.

About ICJ:

It is a Priciapal judicial organ of United Nations.

It settles legal disputes between the member states and gives adivisory opinion to authorized UN organizations and specialized agencies.

It headquarters is in Hague, Netherlands.

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2) Simultaneous elections (SE):

Why in news?

Law commission favours the conduct of simultaneous elections for both lokshaba and legislative assemblies of the states.

Background:

Till 1967 simultaneous elections were held. After the dissolution of certain assemblies in 1968 and 1969 and followed by the dissolution of Lokshaba led to the disruption in conducting simultaneous elections.

Law commissions recommendations:

1) It favours the conduct of SE in two phases. In Ist phase assemblies whose elections are synchronous with Lokshaba elections 2019 will be held simultaneously. In IInd phase remaining assembly election will be held which are in proximity to Lokshaba elections 2024.

2) No confidence motion will be passed only after the passing of confidence motion.

3) If the government falls midterm the new government will hold office for the remaining period of the previous government.

4) The commission recommended for the amendment of Representation of peoples act,1951 and the rules procedure of the Lokshaba and assemblies.

5) It also suggested for removal of “rigours” in the anti-defection law in the Tenth schedule to prevent the stalemate in the Lokshaba or the assemblies in case of hung parliament or assembly.

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3) India-Sweden relations:

Why in news?

PM Modi visited Sweden and attended bilateral summit.

About India-Sweden relations:

Sweden recognized India as a nation in 1947 and established diplomatic relations between India and Sweden.

Sweden had been the supplier of weapon systems for India for a long time.

India-Sweden trade stands at $2 billion currently but countries aim to increase the trade because the potential of both relationship is higher.

Sweden was the long time supporter of India’s Permenant membership in United nations.

In 2016 Pranab Mukerjee was the first head of the state from India visited Sweden.

No of deals had been signed between both countries during the visit of PM Modi to Sweden they are,

Deal on defence and cyber security.

Legal framework should be regularly updated to address the changing threat of terrorism with strength.

India-Sweden Innovation partnership for a sustainable future had been signed.

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EDITORIAL:

TOPIC:

“The new South Asia”

BACKGROUND:

India is wary of increasing influence of Chinese in Indian ocean region and in India’s neighborhood.

In detail :

In recent years China had used its Economic clout in influencing India’s neighborhood as part of China’s “String of pearls theory”(Encircling India). China had invested billions of dollars as part of loan to these countries.

China also started interfering in Internal affairs of India’s neighborhood whether it is Rohingya or in the Maldivian crises.

In Srilanka the coalition government between Sirsena and the wikremesinghe is at a weak now. If the government comes down it will pave the way for Rajapaksha coming to power. Rajapaksha is a staunch Chinese loyalist if he comes to power again then it will be a bad news for India.

In recently held elections in Nepal where K.P.Sharma oli elected who held the campaign of Anti-India rhetoric. His election will also be a bad news for India because during his Last tenure he opened broader trade relations with China and he simply played “China card” towards India to offset the dependence of India.

What India had done to address this?

Regarding all these countries India was in shift of changing its hard power attitude to Soft power to address these challenges.

India had also increased the LOC(Line of credit) to neighboring countries.

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2) Non-alignment redux:

Back ground:

NAM(Non alignment movement) which was formed during Cold war years.

During that time the countries are joining either USA or Soviet union bloc.

India is the founding member and largest country in the bloc.

But in recent years India joining the quadrilateral or Quad(India, USA, Japan, Australia) which had raised India’s commitment to bloc.

But in principal India is holding the principal till today. Recent example was India didn’t respond to western powers pressure on bringing sanctions on Russia over the issue of killing of Russian double agent Skirpal.

Relevance of NAM was there still today as we are seeing in the situation of Syria where Russia and USA where fighting militarily.

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FACTS:

1)Monsoon forcast likely to made twice a week.

2) With a view to achieve total digitisation of postal operations in the country, under the IT Modernisation Plan, Department of Posts has launched DIGITAL ADVANCEMENT OF RURAL POST OFFICE FOR A NEW INDIA (DARPAN) Project, which aims to connect all 1.29 lakh Rural Branch Post Offices in the country, to enable them to do online Postal and Financial Transactions

3)”Study in India” portal launched by Ministry of Human Resource and Development. The portal aimed to make India preffered destination to foreign students.

4) “Nai roshni”:

The scheme is to impart a leadership pragramme among the minority

17^th April 2018 Daily current affairs

NORDIC COUNTRIES:

Why in news?

PM Modi is scheduled to meet members of NORDIC countries.

About NORDIC:

The Nordic countries or the Nordics are a geographical and cultural region in Northern Europe and the North Atlantic, where they are most commonly known as Norden (literally "the North").

The term includes Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden, including Greenland and Faroe Islands.

Source : The Hindu

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About BITA(Bilateral Investment Treaty Agreement):

Negotiations to sign the Broadbased Trade and investment agreement (BTIA) started in 2007. since then the agreement have not signed due to the some differences in negotiations.

Once the agreement is signed, some estimate said that trade may double.

The agreement will also enable India’s increased integration with the global economy.

EU is India’s largest trading partner but India is only the ninth largest trading partner of the EU.

The EU is also one of the largest investors in India and the largest source of technology transfer to India.

India exported goods worth $49.3 billion to EU and EU exported $48.3 billion.

The two way trade stands at about $100 billion.

The trade was marginally favour to India.

The main items of export include petroleum products, textiles, apparels, footwear, gems and jewellery and machinery and transport.

what are the differences between EU and India?

Expectation of EU from India are to:

To reduce tarrif on wines and automobiles which currently stands at 60% and 100%. In addition to these there are state levies.It is also difficult for the states to compromise on alcohol because states are getting huge revenue from alcohol. And that is why these states successfully kept Alcohol out of the GST bracket.

Greater market access for insurance,retail etc. when negotiation started in 2007 India had higher tarrifs on insurance and retail but now India is allowing 49% FDI in insurance and 100% FDI in wholesale trade and single brand detail.

India's expectation from EU:

Easing of VISA norms for Highly skilled Indian professionals.

Greater market access for service sectors.

In addition to the above India is expecting greater market access for textiles, apparel etc.

India's textile companies is in forefront in pressurizing Indian government to finalize the BITA soon because it will make India competetive in textile market. India's competeter in textile sector is Bangladesh and vietnam. These countries already had signed BTIA with EU which made India in disadvantage position.

India is also negotiating to get "Data secure" status to India.

Without this status it is difficult for India in transfering sensitive as well business related data. Even now India is getting data from EU but with the lot of restrictions from member countries of EU.

EU had constituted the study group to study what are the areas in Indianlaw should change to secure this status.

The group was constituted two years ago, but the study conducted was not released yet.

Though India had ammended Information and technology act,2000 as well India had also released Information and technology rules 2011 which is line with safe harbour rules of USA which had accorded data security status. But still EU had not granted the status which shows the "double standards" of EU.

Once the status is accorded it will increase our trade with EU especially in pharmacetical sector where it is difficult for them to sell cheaper patented drugs without extensive clinical trials.

Telemedicine sector will gain momentum because it needs data to be tranferred. and more importantly outsourcing Industries like BPO(Business Process Outsourcing).

Higher quality standards and regulations of EU possess greater barrier to trade. for example a year back Alphonsa mangoes export from India was restricted by EU authorities by citing EU's sanitary and phytosanitary measues which theses mangoes failed to satisfy.

Conclusion:

Even while during referendum on Brexit(Britains exit from EU) the main issue cited by "The leave" group was inability of EU in signing the BITA. They said once they leave the EU it will be easy for Britain to negoatiate bilaterally with countries like India to sign FTA.

Both EU and India should come to the table and finalise the deal. If it happens it will be a win-win situation for both EU and India.

It will increase current trade value between EU and India from around $100 billion to almost $300 billion.

Source: the Hindhu

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Bilateral investment Treaties (BITs) or Bilateral Investment Protection Agreements (BIPAs) :

Why in news?

PM Modi is expected to sign BIPA during his visit to Britain to attend commonwealth of the group meeting.

Bilateral investment Treaties (BITs) or Bilateral Investment Protection Agreements (BIPAs) are agreements between two countries for the reciprocal promotion and protection of investments in each other’s territories by individuals and companies situated in either State. They provide treaty based protection to foreign investment. The BITs are thus bilateral agreements by countries to protect the investment by each country’s investors in the other country. Though they are signed by governments, their beneficiaries are business entities.

New Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT)

The government had brought a new Model Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) in 2016 (often 2015 is also mentioned) it became effective from April 2017 onwards, replacing the earlier framework . The new framework tried to make a balance between government in terms of liability issues and foreign investors. As a result of this change, new investment into the country has to be treated under the revised guidelines and negotiations should be started with partner countries.

Why the new Model BIT?

Main reason for bringing the Model BIT was the constant suing of the country by foreign firms. India was one of the most sued country during 2015 and 2016. According to UNCTAD(United nations conference on Trade and Development)- the international institution that tracks global investment trends, around 17 investor-state arbitrations are filed against the country launched by foreign investors by the end of 2015.

Of these, nine are settled and seven are six are pending and in two cases the country has lost the arbitration. In these two cases, the entities –White Industries and Devas Multimedia have won arbitration against the country. The flooding of arbitrations including that of the Sistema, Vodafone, Children Investment Fund etc. tempted the policy makers to reframe the BITs.

The government thus has modified the existing 1993 BIT framework and brought out the 2015 Model BIT. The move is important as it will help the country to make its treaty more specific in international arbitrations. The textual consistency of a countries’ BIT determines its success in BIT negotiations and disputes.

Features of the new Model BIT

The Model Treaty brings several provisions either new or modifications of the existing one. Important features are mentioned below.

1. Enterprise based definition of investment instead of asset based definition

The Model has adopted an ‘enterprise-based’ definition of investment that under which investment is treated as the one made by an enterprise incorporated in the host state or foreign investors who did not have enterprise in India will not get protection for its investment. Under the earlier ‘asset based definition’ of investment which is an universally accepted one includes intellectual property and other assets that whereas these assets are not considered as assets under the new definition.

The objective of adopting enterprise-based approach is to narrow the scope of protected investments and reduce the potential liability of the state under Investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS) claims. Asset based definition considers every kind of asset – both movable and immovable as investment and gives protection under treaties, though their contribution to national economic development is meagre.

2. Exclusion of MFN treatment

The most important feature of the amended model is that it droped the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status previously included. Purpose of the MFN clause for the investors angel is to ensure that a say, a US investor is not discriminated compared to say, a Japanese investor.

In recent years, complaining foreign investors sued India arguing that they have to get the same beneficial treatment given to companies from other countries. This was happened in the case of White Industries. The Australian firm has highlighted the MFN status provided under the India-Kuwait BIT to claim compensation from the government and won an international arbitration. The White Industries case is pointed as the main factor that produced the deletion of the MFN clause.

3. Full Protection and Security (FPS): In the context of the Model, FPS means obligations only relating to physical security of investors and to investments.

4. State government as stake holders:

Actions of the state Governments are included under the Model BIT.

5. Fair and equitable treatment (FET)

The Model BIT links Fair and Equitable Treatment to international laws. This is aimed to counter a broad interpretation and risk misuse. Here, customary international law, which is built in state practice, gives a minimum standard of protection to investors. Any potential violation listed in the provisions of denial of justice, breach of due process etc, requires a violation of customary international law for a claim to be justified.

When the Model BIT linked FET to international law, it gives more scope for government and regulators.

6. Expropriation

Expropriation means nationalization of assets of foreign companies. As in other BITs, the Model BIT provides that the State cannot nationalise or expropriate an Investment or take measures equivalent to expropriation, except “for reasons of public purpose” in accordance with the procedure established by law and on payment of adequate compensation. But it gives certain exemptions. Here, the Model BIT says that, any measure by a judicial body aiming to protect public interest will be outside the purview of expropriation. Similarly, non-discriminatory regulatory measures were also excluded.

7. Non-Discriminatory treatment

The Model BIT includes a new clause on non-discriminatory treatment for compensation of losses. As peer the clause, investors can avail non-discriminatory just compensation in circumstances like armed conflict, natural disasters and in the state of national emergency.

8. Provision for transparency

The Model BIT incorporates a clause for transparency, requiring the Parties (government and regulators) to ensure that all the laws, regulations, procedures and administrative rulings regarding matters covered in the BIT are published or are available for interested persons to get acquainted with them. The clause thus ensures clarity of laws and policies for the investors.

9. Corporate Social Responsibility

The Model BIT mandates foreign investors to voluntarily adopt internationally recognized standards of corporate social responsibility.

10. Conditions for initiating arbitrations at international arbitrations

The Model BIT stipulate that the aggrieved investor should use all local remedies as well as negotiations and consultations initiating arbitrations against the host State. Investor can use outside remedies only five years after resorting to all domestic arrangements.

11. The model BIT approved by the cabinet excludes matters relating to taxation.

The model Bill thus tries to balance protection to the investor with state regulations. More importantly it was configured in the context of excess legal arbitration against the state. What is more important is to renegotiate with the partner countries and attract foreign investment in the context of the change.

Conclusion:

Two years before in 2015 India terminated BIT,1993 which it had signed between 15 EU countries. After this Model BIT was drafted and it also came into force now. Government should soon negotiate with these countries to sign the model BIT's as termination of older BIT had affected the trade between these 15 important trading partners.

Source: The hindhu, businessline.

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Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY):

Why in news:

PMGSY is on its way to complete the target.

ABOUT:

The Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana ( Prime Minister's Rural Roads Scheme) is a nationwide plan in India to provide good all-weather road connectivity to unconnected villages

Introduced in the year 2000.

Source: PIB

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FACTS:

1) Haemophilia is a condition that affects bloods ability to clot, causing the patient to bleed severly from even a slight injury.

2) Prevention of cruelty to animals act of 1960 authorises government officials concerned to euthanize mortally injured, captive animals.

3) Intra trade with the commonwealth currently stands at $523 billion dollars and is expected to increase to $700 billion.

4)According to amnesty international report on death penalty shows East asia region tops the list with china the most with more than 1000 executions in one year.

EDITORIAL:

TOPIC:

"Its time to replace the UGC act"

Introduction:

The government of India recently made Number of reforms in the higher education sector such as

1) Enactment of Indian institute of management bill,2017 which gave complete autonomy to management institutions.

2)extension of Rashtriya Uchchtar Shiksha Abhiyan(RUSA) (Read RUSA in detail in our 1st week of april current affairs).

3) Reforms in the rules and regulations of the UGC and giving autonomy to India's best ranked universities and colleges.

4) UGC recently introduced new rules and regulations under which it divided the universities into:

1) catagory- I universities.

2) catagory-II universities.

3) catagory-III universities.

Under the rule, Catagory-I universities will have greater autonomy than the Catagory-II universities.

It is the time to have a change in UGC act,1956.

Changes to done in the UGC act includes:

1) Setting up of Higher education regulatory agency (HERA) which will subsume all the other three existing agencies which are under Human resource and development ministry.

2) Only there will be catagory I and II universities not unlike above.

catagory I universities will have a autonomy to set their curriculum on their own and the catagory-II universities and colleges affliated to it will adopt curriculums of one or more catagory II universities.

If this was implemented it will save vast amount of time of HERA. currently vast amount of time of UGC spends on setting curriculum for universities and colleges.

3) HERA should also frame the rules for the establishment of New universities and colleges.

To do all the above reforms HERA should have

i) Accreditation board.

ii)Finance Board.

i) Accreditiation Board(AB):

The commision in cooperation with the AB will have the responsibility to draw up the standards and a grading system for colleges and Universities.

ii) Finanace Board(FB):

The commision in cooperation with the FB will also develop guidelines for funding Universities and colleges.

4) The act should lay down a clear path for the entry of foreign institutions.

The top 200-300 institutions in the world may be allowed entry as Catagory - I institutions.

5) The act should act as an integration between teaching and research in universities and colleges.

Conclusion:

The above proposed reforms definitly have an impact on the Higher education sector.

when if implemented completely it will improve the higher education sector substantially and will make an entry of our universities and colleges in top 100 leading universities in the world(currently none of the Indian universities and colleges are there in the list).

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TOWARDS A REGIONAL RESET?

With regard:

1)To China:

Recent actions by New delhi suggest that India is shifting from Hard power approach to soft power approach.

With regard to china after the 73 day long Doklam stand-off India and China sets for rest in ties which we know from the recent visit of NSA(National Security Advisor) of India Ajith Doval to china and meet with the Secial representative and politbureau member Yang yeichi.India didn't reacted when the news report which says that China is building infrastructure few metres away from Doklam.

2)To Pakisthan:

For the first time since the current administration came to power informed the parliment that there was a frequent phone calls between security advisors of both India and Pakisthan.

3) To Maldives :

Even after heavy pressure from USA and other Western countries India didn't responded militarily for crises which occured in Maldives(where the president is accused of deintegrating democracy).

4) To Nepal:

After the PM of Nepal elected for the second time where he won comfortably based on anti-India rhetoric made his first visit after he won to India keeping the tradition alive.

Conclusion:

All the above shows that India is changing its approach from Hard power to soft power.

16^thApril 2018 Daily Current Affairs

ASIAN PREMIUM:

Why in news?

India to ally with China “Asian premium”.

Asian preminum:

Background:

Oil prices had starting coming down since later 2014 due to USA’s high shale gas production and slow down in China which led to overproduction of oil in the world market.

There was a time when the western countries purchase more oil than any other countries. But from the last decade the Asian countries started purchasing more oil than western countries due to high growth in their economies.

Earlier Asian countries paid more than the western countries what we called that as “Asian premium”.

But in the recent years Asian countries especially India taking lead in asserting its right against “Asian premium” charged by OPEC (Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries). India raised this issue with OPEC countries through bilaterally as well as in multilateral forum.

Argument that India kept was Asian countries purchase more from OPEC than the western countries. Then western countries have now multiple sources for their oil needs but Asian countries have no major producers so they still depend on OPEC for their oil needs.

Even recently India decided to coordinate with other Asian countries most importantly China to voice against “Asian premium” to get a better price from OPEC countries.

The above scenario can be best illustrated by the following example.

Consider Asian countries purchases oil at the rate of Rs.200/litre from OPEC countries but the western countries are purchasing oil at the rate of Rs.180/litre despite Asian countries which are still developing while the most of the western countries are well developed.

Due to recent fall in oil prices OPEC counties have decided to cut down the oil production to increase the price of oil. In a way OPEC is asserting its dominance by increasing the oil prices.

Conclusion:

OPEC members have to heed towards Asian countries now as the growth engine have shifted towards these countries not western countries. And also they(OPEC) have to be humane in fixing the price of the oil because whatever increase in the price ultimately the consumer is the sufferer.

If OPEC is trying to increase the cost of oil to save their economy it should not be at the cost of the developing countries.

In recent years, fixing the price of oil have shifted from supplying countries to demand centric countries.

These countries not asking “Asian dividend” they are just asking to remove the “Asian premium”. OPEC countries must respect the right of the Asian countries and it should remove the “Asian premium” and fix the price in way balancing its own economy as well as the Asian countries

Source: the hindhu

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Chip in for viewership data:

Why in news?

Information and broadcasting ministry(I&B) has decided to install chip in setup boxes to collect the data of the viewers.

News in detail:

Currently, Broadcast Audience Research council of India (BARC) is providing viewership data.

The I&B ministry alleged that the BARC is like a monopoly and there is no alternative and it also not revealing how they arrive at the viewership figures, methodology they apply and the area of survey.

The ministry says that this would help the adverstisers to spend their advertising wisely.

The ministry also feels that doordarshan viewership is underreported and the chip is installed it would give the real viewership figures of the channel.

ABOUT DAVC:

The directorate of Advertising and Visual Publicity(DAVP) is the nodal agency of the nodal agency of the government for advertising by various ministries and its organisations.

ABUT BARC:

Broadcast Audience Research Council (BARC) India is a joint-industry not-for-profit body that publishes weekly TV viewership data for India.

It is mandated to design, commission, supervise, and own a television audience measurement system for India, and provides Indian broadcast sector with a real-time television rating points (TRP) measurement system.

BARC India was set up by the three key stakeholder bodies in Indian broadcast sector - the India Broadcast Foundation (IBF), Advertising Agencies Association of India (AAAI) and Indian Society of Advertisers (ISA).

It uses Audio Watermarking technology to measure viewership of TV channels, and the system also allows measurement of time-shifted viewing and simulcasts.

The company was incorporated in 2010 and is based in Mumbai, India.

Source: the hindhu

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EDITORIAL:

WAR FOR WAR:

Recently, USA, France , U.K launched number of missle strikes against Syrian government held areas.

The coordinated missle attack was planned after, there was a news report that Syrian government forces backed by Russia had used chemical weapons against rebels held areas supported by the western countries.

Whether this strike is necessary or not?

Attack might have been planned after the report from Chemical weapon watchdog OPCW. OPCW have not even started the investigation into these allegations made by western countries. This event had reminded us the infamous invasion of Iraq by US and its allies after the report from their intelligent agencies that Iraq headed by Sadam hussain possessed nuclear weapons but after the attack by the west and considerable damage happened when investigation started into the incident it was found that they can’t find nuclear weapons.

The recent should not go like Iraq. Even the recent missle attack is also violation of international norm. So before launching any attack by West if any, it should only happen if OPCW found any chemical weapons factory and if any the future possible attack should UN-led.

Is the missle attack needed?

Syrian people already suffered huge losses of about 4 lakh casualties in a war against ISIS. Recently most of the areas held by the ISIS had been brought down and while the people are having a little relief they didn’t want war again so all the forces whether they are government or the rebels should come forward and start the dialogue and restore the peace in the country.

What is Russia’s response?

Before the attack when Trump called for an attack Russsia warned USA of serious consequences. But after the attack Russia didn’t responded militarily instead it called for “UNSC(United Nations Security Council)” meeting.

Is USA does have Syria strategy?

Only a few days ago Trump announced that American troops will be withdrawn from Syria. But now USA leads the missle attack in Syria. This led the commendators confused about the USA’s strategy. But report from the Pentagon(USA’s military Headquaters located) pointed out the USA will not tolerate any Chemical attack there were some red lines for USA regarding Chemical weapons.

For to know the Background of Syria war visit Ist week of April month current affairs.

Source: the hindhu

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With or Without Nawaz sharif:

Background:

Recently Supreme court in Pakisthan had disqualified Nawaz sharif former PM of pakisthan.

In detail:

This was not the first time the sitting PM is disqualified. None of the PM in Pakisthan had completed his tenure completely. Either they will be removed by the court or by the military coup.

Nawaz sharif was earlier also disqualified in 1998 by the military coup organised by the then genereal Parvez musharaf and after that he was exiled and suddenly he returned in 2007 when Musharaf was in a weak position.

Whenever India and Pakisthan tried to come together it will be either scuttled by the terrorist attack in India or by firing from Pakisthan along LOC(Line of Actual Control).

With sharif?

Even when sharif was at the helm of the Pakisthan the relations between both India and Pakisthan was not improved much this was due to interference from military or the pakisthani intelligencies. But atleast he tries to normalize the relations even under the pressure of military.

Without sharif?

Sharif was the largest political figure in the war trodden country. He is the symbol of democracy among the people the of pakisthan.

He is a channel of communication to bring the peace in pakisthan. So without sharif democracy at stake in Pakisthan.

Conclusion:

In his third term, he was more successful than any other elected national leader since 1985 and far better than all his previous years in office.the only constant in pakisthani politics is that it is foolish to make predictions.

Source: the hindhu

15^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

FAME(Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Electric vehicles scheme) INDIA SCHEME:

Why in news?

Government extends phase-1 of FAME India scheme by 6 months.

About FAME INDIA SCHME:

It was launched under National Electric Mobility Mission (NEMM) 2020.

Objectives:

Provide fiscal and monetary incentives for adoption and market creation of both hybrid and electric technologies vehicles in the country.

About NEMM:

It has set an ambitious target of selling 6-7 million Electric and Hybrid vehicles by 2020.

It comes under Ministry of Heavy Industry.

Source: the hindhu

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Difference between loan write-off and loan waiver ?

Why in news?

The Centre earlier this month told Parliament that non-performing assets (NPAs) worth 2.41 lakh crore have been written off from the books of public sector banks between April 2014 and September 2017. Since the banks were able to recover only 11% of the distressed loans worth 2.7 lakh crore within the stipulated time, the rest had to be written off as per regulations. The government, however, clarified that the defaulters will have to pay back the loans, though they were written off.

Loan write off:

A loan write off – as it applies to individual borrowers – occurs when the lender ( a bank or other financial institution) decides that a loan is not collectible and removes it from their balance sheet.

The lender judges that it will not be able to recover its dues through collection for a variety of reasons – the borrower might not have the capacity to repay, the borrower is absconding, the borrower is bankrupt etc.

While a loan is active, it is an asset to have on the lender’s balance sheet as it indicates that the lender is owed money. However, when there is a minimal possibility of the loan amount being recovered, the bank has to write it off to reflect the diminishing of the value of the asset.

For example, if X owes Bank Y Rs 10 lakhs, it is an asset on the bank’s balance sheet. If however there is no hope of getting back the Rs 10 lakhs, then it is misleading for Bank Y to continue to list it as an asset.

In banking, a write off can refer to a loan or to a credit card in default

However, even after writing off a bad loan and receiving a tax deduction from the loan amount, the banks are free to pursue the defaulters in hope of recovering in the future.

What is loan waive off ?

In a loan waiver the borrower is exempted from repayment.

For ex: The government of Maharastra had waived off farm loans worth 38,000 crore.

By this farmers did not want to repay the amount they borrowed.

What is loan waive off ?

In a loan waiver the borrower is exempted from repayment.

For ex: The government of Maharastra had waived off farm loans worth 38,000 crore.

By this farmers did not want to repay the amount they borrowed.

How did it come about?

For long, India has lacked a proper legal framework to help creditors recover their money from borrowers. According to the World Bank, the country ranks 103rd in the world in bankruptcy resolution, with the average time taken to resolve a case of bankruptcy extending well over four years. Banks in India, in fact, are able to recover on an average only about 25% of their money from defaulters as against 80% in the U.S.

Public sector banks have also been lenient in collecting their dues from defaulting borrowers because of pressure from powerful interest groups. Instead of classifying sour loans as troubled assets and taking action to recover them, banks have often chosen to hide such assets using unethical accounting techniques. Since 2014, however, the Reserve Bank of India has been stepping up efforts to force both private and public sector banks to truthfully recognise the size of bad loans on their books. This caused the reported size of stressed assets to increase manifold in the last few years.

Why does it matter?

The news about the huge loan write-off comes amid the Union government’s efforts over the last few years to expedite the process of bankruptcy and improve recoveries. The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), which came into force last year, was the most notable among them. Many large corporations, as well as smaller enterprises, have been admitted to undergo liquidation under the IBC so that the proceeds can be used to pay back banks.

The poor loan recovery reported by the government reflects poorly on the ability of the new bankruptcy law to help banks recover loans and mounts more pressure on bank balance sheets. It is notable that the Centre recently vowed to inject ?2.11 lakh crore into public sector banks to cushion their balance sheets from the impact of bad loans. The poor recovery may increase the size of funds the Centre will have to allocate for the purpose.

What lies ahead?

It seems unlikely that banks will be able to drastically improve their rate of recoveries since the new bankruptcy code is far from perfect. Its critics say the IBC is focussed more on the time-bound resolution of proceedings than on maximising the amount of money banks can recover from stressed loans.

In particular, since there are strict time-limits imposed on the resolution process, there is the imminent danger that it may lead to the fire-sale of valuable assets at cheap prices. This can affect investment incentives. But, for now, the quick resolution of bad loans will free resources from struggling firms and hand them to the more efficient ones.

Source: the hindhu

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Price Support System(PSS):

Why in news?

Centre’s moves to help pulse farmers.

News in detail:

Food corporation of India procure food from the farmers for Minimum support Price(MSP) and distribute it to PDS(public distribution system) of different states. People purchase those food grains from the PDS shops or Ration shops.

The Minimum Support Prices scheme is for food crops like rice,sugarcane,wheat etc..

OIL SEEDS AND PULSES PROCUREMENT:

The Department of Agriculture and Cooperation implements the Price Support Scheme for Oil Seeds and Pulses through the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd. (NAFED).

NAFED is the nodal procurement agency for Oilseeds and pulses, So, when the prices of oilseeds, pulses and cotton fall below MSP, NAFED purchases them from the farmers.

About NAFED:

National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India Ltd.(NAFED) was established on on 2nd October 1958.

Nafed is registered under the Multi State Co-operative Societies Act. Nafed was setup with the object to promote Co-operative marketing of Agricultural Produce to benefit the farmers.

Agricultural farmers are the main members of Nafed, who have the authority to say in the form of members of the General Body in the working of Nafed

Cotton procurement:

Cotton corporation of India limited(CCI):

The Cotton Corporation of India Limited or CCI is a Government of India agency,engaged in diverse activities related to trade, procurement, and export of cotton.

CCI is a public sector agency responsible for equitable distribution of cotton among the different constituents of the industry and aid imports of cotton.

It was incorporated on July 31, 1970 under the Companies Act 1956.

CCI is governed by Textile Policy 1985 issued by the Ministry of Textiles, Government of India.

Source: the hindhu, nafed

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Neutrino project:

What are neutrinos?

Proton, neutron, and electron are tiny particles that make up atoms. The neutrino is also a tiny elementary particle, but it is not part of the atom. Such particles are also found to exist in nature. Neutrino has a very tiny mass, no charge and spin half. It interacts very weakly with other matter particles. So weakly that every second trillions of neutrinos fall on us and pass through our bodies unnoticed.

Neutrinos come from the sun (solar neutrinos) and other stars, cosmic rays that come from beyond the solar system, and from the Big Bang from which our Universe originated. They can also be produced in the lab.

Neutrinos come in three types or “flavours” – electron neutrino, tau neutrino and muon neutrino.

They can change from one flavor to another as they travel. This process is called neutrino oscillation and is an unusual quantum phenomenon.

Neutrino oscillation was established by Sudbury Neutrino Observatory, Canada, and Super-Kamiokande experiment in Japan. They studied Solar neutrinos, atmospheric neutrinos and man-made neutrinos.

The India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) will study atmospheric neutrinos only. Solar neutrinos have much lower energy than the detector can detect.

How are atmospheric neutrinos produced in nature?

Atmospheric neutrinos are produced from cosmic rays which consist of protons and heavy nuclei. These collide with atmospheric molecules such as Nitrogen to give off pions and muons which further decay to produce neutrinos.

Why does INO need the mountain?

The mountain consists of 1km of solid rock that filters away most of the charged particles from the cosmic rays. The filtered set consist of a part of the incident cosmic ray protons and pions and practically all the neutrinos.

Why does the experiment have to be underground?

If the detector was placed at the surface of the mountain, it would pick up billions of cosmic ray muons every hour and about 10 neutrino events per day. After placing inside the rock, it would detect only 300 muon events per hour and about 10 neutrino events per day of which 3 will be the desired muon neutrino events.

How will the Iron calorimeter detect the neutrinos?

The ICAl consists of 150 layers of alternating iron slabs and glass detectors called Resistive plate chambers.

The muon neutrino interacts with the iron to produce a muon which is electrically charged. This charge is picked up by sensors in the glass RPCs which set off an electrical pulse, to be measured by the electronics. By piecing together the pulses set off in successive glass plates, the path followed by the muon is tracked. This is used to infer the properties of the neutrino which caused the pulses.

Dimensions

Dimensions of the cavern – The cavern will be 130 m length X 26 m wide X 35 m height. Tunnel will be 7.5 m X 7.5 m cross section. This will be like a 2-inch hole made in a 10 foot wall.

Estimated time to construct the experiment

The detector has three modules. It is estimated to build one module per year, after completing the civil construction which can take up to 3-4 years.

Some immediately possible future applications of neutrino science

100 years ago, when the electron was discovered, it had no foreseeable uses. Today, a world without electronics cannot be imagined.

Hence basic sciences research is needed to understand the properties of particles before they can be applied.

Properties of the sun

The visible light that reaches us from the sun is emitted from the surface of the sun. The neutrinos which also take close to this time to reach us from the sun, known as solar neutrinos, were produced in the core of the sun. Therefore they give us information about the interior of the sun. Studying these neutrinos can help us understand what goes on in the interior of the sun.

What makes up the universe?

Light coming from distant stars can be studied by astronomers, for example, to detect new planets. Light is the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum, other parts are used in for example radio astronomy. Likewise, if the properties of neutrinos are understood better, they can be used in astronomy to discover what the universe is made up of.

Probing Early Universe

Neutrinos interact very little with the matter around them, so they travel long distances uninterrupted. Since they take time to cross these distances, they are in effect uninterrupted for very long times. The extragalactic neutrinos we observe may be coming from the distant past. These inviolate messengers can give us a clue about the origin of the universe and the early stages of the infant universe, soon after the Big Bang.

Medical Imaging

Apart from direct future uses of neutrinos, there are technological applications of the detectors that will be used to study them. For instance, X-ray machines, PET scans, MRI scans, etc., all came out of research into particle detectors. Hence the INO detectors may have applications in medical imaging.

Source: the hindhu

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FACTS:

1)The USA had put India on “FOREX” watch list. This step had been taken after India is purchasing dollar at a faster rate and to its FOREX reserves. Currently India forex reserves stands at $424 billion dollars.

2)As per government mantra “ONE NATION ONE POLL” law commission of India in its draft report called for conducting simultaneous elections for parliament and state elections in two phases. 1^st phase by 2019 and the 2^nd by 2024.(complete report have not released yet).

3)Writing memories into cells: Synthetic biologists, treating cells pretty much like computers, have programmed cells to perform specific biochemical tasks by engineering a new memory device that writes into the DNA of the cell directly. The genetic parts needed for turning the cell into a tiny computer that possesses transcriptional logic gates, timers, counters, and so on are already known. Now, memory devices that can directly record into the DNA have been made in the lab by researchers from MIT and Harvard University, in the U.S. The recorded memories could be erased and re-recorded several times. This could come in useful when engineering synthetic cells that can target specific tumours and release site-specific drugs into the body.

Source: the hindhu

14^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

Indian kings (Karnataka region) who fought against the British:

Why in news?

In an election season in Karnataka political leaders are paying their respect to famous rulers.

1) Kittur Chennamma:

Kittur Chennamma (23 October 1778 – 21 February 1829) was the Rani of Kittur, a former princely state in Karnataka. She led an armed rebellion against the British East India Company in 1824 in defiance of the doctrine of lapse in an attempt to maintain Indian control over the region, but was defeated and died imprisoned.

One of the first female rulers to rebel against British rule, she has become a folk hero in Karnataka and symbol of the independence movement in India.

She belonged to the Lingayat community and received training in horse riding, sword fighting and archery from a young age.

She married Raja Mallasarja of the Desai family at the age of 15.

Statue at Parliament House complex, New Delhi

On 11 September 2007 a statue of Rani Chennamma was unveiled at the Indian Parliament Complex by Pratibha Patil, the first woman President of India.

2) Sangolli Rayanna:

Sangolli Rayanna (15 August 1798 – 26 January 1831) was a prominent warrior from Karnataka, India.

He was the army chief of the Kingdom of Kittur ruled at the time by Rani Chennamma and fought the British East India Company till his death.

Sangolli Rayanna also participated in the 1824 rebellion and was arrested by the British, who released him later. He continued to fight the British and wanted to install adopted son Shivalingappa as the ruler of Kittur.

He mobilised local people and started a guerilla type war against the British.He and his "army" moved from place to place, burnt government

offices, waylaid British troops and plundered treasuries.

Most of his land was confiscated and what remained of it was heavily taxed.

He taxed the landlords and built up an army from the masses. The British troops could not defeat him in open battle. Hence, by treachery, he was caught in April 1830 and tried by the British; and sentenced to death.

Shivalingappa, the boy who was supposed to be the new ruler, was also arrested by the British.

Rayanna was executed by hanging to death from a Banyan tree about 4 kilometers from Nandagad in Belagavi district on 26 January 1831.

3) Kempe Gowda:

Kempe Gowda was a chieftain who ruled over most parts of Karnataka for the better part of the 16th century. History credits him with being a just and humane ruler and he is also widely accepted by historians as being the founder of Bangalore.

Kempe Gowda visualised building a city that would house a military cantonment, water tanks, temples, and provide employment to tradesmen.

He approached the Vijayanagara kings for the requisite permission and laid the foundations for what would become Bangalore City in 1532.

The planned city had eight access gates and wide roads and the settlement.

Bangaluru airport is named after him as “kempe gowda international airport”.

Source: the hindhu

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Protection of Childern from sexual offences act(POCSO ACT),2012:

Background:

The act was brought down by the center after huge public outcry to frame a tougher laws to protect the women and children from sexual predators. Huge anger was due to sexually assaulting Nirbhaya and after that huge public rally broke out against the inefficiency of the government in bringing justice to Nirbhaya.

Why in news?

Even after the act the rape cases had not come down.

Recently rape cases in kathua and unnao where girl child was sexually assaulted which again started the debate to further strengthen the POCSO act. Minister of women and child welfare hinted at bringing amendments to POCSO act. By this amendment ministry decided to bring death penalty to rape accused on the lines of recent act brought down by Haryana government which brought death penalty to person who is accused of raping minor children.

WHAT IS POCSO?

The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012 was formed to protect children from offenses of sexual abuse, sexual harassment and pornography and to provide a child-friendly system for the trial of these offences.

HERE'S ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE POCSO ACT:

* The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 received the President's assent on June 19, 2012 and was notified in the Gazette of India on June 20, in the year 2012

* Except the State of Jammu and Kashmir, the Act extends to the whole of India

* According to the act, "child" means any person below the age of eighteen years

FORMS OF SEXUAL ABUSE

The Act defines different forms of sexual abuse, including penetrative and non-penetrative assault, as well as sexual harassment and pornography, etc.

It further states that a sexual assault is to be considered "aggravated" under certain specific circumstances, such as when the abused child is mentally ill or when the abuse is committed by a member of the armed forces or security forces or a public servant or a person in a position of trust or authority of the child, like a family member, police officer, teacher, or doctor or a person-management or staff of a hospital -- whether Government or private.

REPORTING OF SEXUAL ABUSE

The Act makes reporting of sexual offences mandatory.

It makes it the legal duty of a person who has knowledge that a child has been sexually abused to report the offence; if he/she fails to do so, he/she may be punished with six months' imprisonment and/or a fine.

TRIAL

According to the act the evidence of the child should be recorded within a period of thirty days of the Special Court taking cognizance of the offence and the Special Court shall complete the trial, as far as possible, within a period of one year from the date of taking cognizance of the offence.

It also provides that the Special Court shall try cases in camera and in the presence of the parents of the child or any other person in whom the child has trust or confidence.

PUNISHMENT

The POCSO act also provides provisions for punishment for false complaint or false information.

The Act prescribes stringent punishment according to the gravity of the offence and prescribes rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and also fine as punishment for aggravated penetrative sexual assault.

The Act also prescribes imprisonment of either description which may extend to three years or with fine or with both as punishment for storage of pornographic material involving child.

It also prescribes punishment to the people who traffic children for sexual purposes.

Conclusion:

Just by bringing the act there will be no change in the society unless the government should take steps to implement the law properly. The Government should set up special court to deal with these cases So that Justice should be delivered within the stipulated time. Women police stations have to be increased to increase the reporting of the cases. Public awareness have to be created about the act. All the above steps have to be taken to address these issues and government should make sure that theses kind of incident should not occur in the future.

Source: India today, the hindhu

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RED BOOK LIST:

Why in news?

Australian Mary river turtle was listed as “endangered” list.

About Red book list:

Red book list released by IUCN.

It was first released in 1966 as a guide for formulation, preservation and management of species listed.

“Red” is a symbolic of danger that the species both palnts and animals presently experience throught the globe.

ABOUT IUCN:

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is a membership Union uniquely composed of both government and civil society organisations.

It provides public, private and non-governmental organisations with the knowledge and tools that enable human progress, economic development and nature conservation to take place together.

As the only environmental organisation with official United Nations Observer Status.

Source: the hindhu, IUCN.

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National flim awards:

Why in news?

Recently president of india confers National flim awards posthumously to Sri devi and vinod khanna.

About National flim awards:

The National Film Awards is the most prominent film award ceremonies in India.

Established in 1954, it has been administered, along with the International Film Festival of India and the Indian Panorama, by the Indian government's Directorate of Film Festivals since 1973.

About the Directorate of flim festivals:

The Directorate of Film Festivals in India is an organisation that initiates and presents the International Film Festival of India, the National Film Awards and the Indian Panorama.

The Directorate set up by Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Govt of India, to organise national and international film festivals in India.

Editorial:

The Pathalgadi rebellion:

In Jharkhand 26% of its population are tribals.

Pathalgadi in Jharkhand was placement of huge stone in honouring their tribal ancestors.

Recently they were erected in some villages to inform that outsiders are not allowed without the permission of their village elders.

They did this because they felt cheated by the Indian government over the years and not brought any development over the years. And they decided not to allow the government officials into the area. They feel that these officials branded them as maoist and naxals and arrested innocent Tribals.

Their hero was “Birsa Munda” who (1875–1900) was an Indian tribal freedom fighter, religious leader, and folk hero who belonged to the Munda tribe.

He spearheaded an Indian tribal religious Millenarian movement that arose in the tribal belt of modern-day Bihar and Jharkhand in the late 19th century, during the British Raj, thereby making him an important figure in the history of the Indian independence movement.

His achievements are even more remarkable for having been accomplished before the age of 25.

His portrait hangs in the Central Hall of the Indian parliament, the only tribal leader to have been so honored

This movement get inspiration from PESA.

The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 or PESA

This law enacted by the Government of India for ensuring self governance through traditional Gram Sabhas for people living in the Scheduled Areas of India.

Scheduled Areas are areas identified by the Fifth Schedule of the Constitution of India. Scheduled Areas are found in ten states of India which have predominant population of tribal communities.

The Scheduled Areas, were not covered by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment or Panchayati Raj Act of the Indian Constitution as provided in the Part IX of the Constitution.

PESA was enacted on 24 December 1996 to extend the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution to Scheduled Areas, with certain exceptions and modifications. PESA sought to enable the Panchayats at appropriate levels and Gram Sabhas to implement a system of self-governance with respect to a number of issues such as customary resources, minor forest produce, minor minerals, minor water bodies, selection of beneficiaries, sanction of projects, and control over local institutions.

PESA is an Act to provide for the extension of the provisions of Part IX of the Constitution relating to the Panchayats and the Scheduled Areas.

PESA was viewed as a positive development for tribal communities in Scheduled Areas who had earlier suffered tremendously from engagement with modern development processes and from the operation of both colonial laws and statutes made in independent India.

The loss of access to forest, land, and other community resources had increased their vulnerability.

Rampant land acquisition and displacement due to development projects had led to large scale distress in tribal communities living in Scheduled Areas.

PESA was seen as a panacea for many of these vulnerabilities and sought to introduce a new paradigm of development where the tribal communities in such Scheduled Areas were to decide by themselves the pace and priorities of their development.

Red corridor:

The Red Corridor is the region in the eastern, central and the southern parts of India that experience considerable Naxalite–Maoist insurgency.

Soon after the movement spread across many villages the state government had reduced its tone and assured these communities that none of the decision related to “development” in these areas will be taken without the consent of Gram sabha.

Conclusion:

Tribals are indigenous people who love their land without any greed. Government in its conservation efforts should involve the local tribals.

Government should take steps to develop these tribal belts but only after the consultation of tribals.

SOURCE: THE HINDHU.

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Harvest festivals across India:

Vishu:

Vishu (Malayalam: ????, "Bisu" in Tulu Language),"Bisu sankramana" in Arebhashe dialect is the astronomical new year Hindu festival celebrated in the Indian state of Kerala, Tulunadu region and Kodagu in Karnataka and their diaspora communities.

Pahela Baishakh:

Pahela Baishakh , also called Pohela Boishakh,is the first day of Bengali Calendar. It is celeberated in the Indian states of West Bengal and Tripura and elsewhere by people of Bengali heritage, irrespective of their religious faith.

BohagBihu:

BohagBihu wishes to my Assamese sisters and brothers. A festival characterised by energy and enthusiasm, may this auspicious day bring happiness and good health in our society.

Pana Sankranti:

Pana Sankranti, also known as Maha bisuba Sankranti, is the traditional new year day festival of Buddhists and Hindus in Odisha, India. The festival date is set with the solar cycle of the lunisolar calendar, as the first day of the traditional solar month of Mesha.

Baisakhi:

The auspicious festival of Baisakhi, sometimes also known as Vaisakhi, marks the beginning of the Sikh New Year and the advent of fresh and happier times. Among the Hindus, Vaisakhi celebrates and ushers in the solar New Year. Baisakhi is one of the most important celebrations in Punjab because it rings in the the harvest festival.

SOURCE: The hindhu

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e-FRRO/FRO (Foreigners Registration Office or Foreigners Regional Registration Office):

Foreigners touring India no longer need to physically visit the office of the Foreigners Registration Office or Foreigners Regional Registration Office (FRO/FRRO) for visa-related services including registration and visa extension, which will now be offered online through the e-FRRO platform.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday launched the web-based application ‘e-FRRO’, which will allow foreign tourists/travellers to avail of paperless and cashless visa-related services online while eliminating the need for any human interface.

In the new system, foreigners will be able to get as many as 27 visa and immigration-related services in India from the comfort of their place of stay. Using the e-FRRO application, foreigners can apply online on the portal and obtain the service(s) through email/post without appearing in person at the FRO/FRRO office.

While launching the e-FRRO service here, Singh said it had been a constant endeavour of the home ministry to provide fast and efficient services to foreigners visiting India so that they have a pleasant experience of their stay here.

SOURCE: Ministry of External Affairs

13^thApril 2018 Daily Current Affairs

BANK BOARD BUREAU(BBB):

Why in news?

Centre appoints Bhanu pratap Sharma as a chairman of BBB.

ABOUT:

BACKGROUND:

As part of “INDRADHANUSHPLAN” for banks seven strategies had been devised to revamp the PSB’s.

1)Bank board bureau

2)Destressing of banks - vibrant debt market for PSB’s to reduce the lending pressure of the banks.

3)recapitilisation –government had decided to inject 25,000 crore annually to the debt-laden banks.

4)empowerment –providing greater flexibility in hiring of professionals.

5)Appointment – selection of non-executive chairman in 6 state owned PSB’s.

6)Framework of accountability – strengthening the vigilance of PSB’s to check the major frauds and also with connivance of the staff.

7)governance reforms in PSB’s- gyan sangam(bankers retreat) will be held to deliberate the baking situation in the country.

ABOUT BBB:

It is an autonomous and recommendatory body.

Its main function is to revamp the PSBS’S by collaborating with various stakeholders to strengthen the PSB’s to take on competition among the banks and to take on the risk faced in this sector.

With the aim of strengthening the PSB’s BBB will recruit the professionals and by this it replaced the appointments board of the governments.

Source: the hindhu, Bank board bureau.

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CPI INFLATON(Consumer Price Index):

Why in news?

In march CPI inflation has been reduced to 5 month low of about 4.28%

About CPI:

CPI released at national level includes:

(i) CPI for Industrial workers.

(ii) CPI for Agricultural labourers/Rural labourers.

(iii) CPI for Rural/Urban/ combined.

(i),(ii) are released by labour bureau. Ministry of labour and employment.

(iii) is released by Central statistics Organisation(CSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme implementation.

In India, RBI uses CPI(RURAL/URBAN/COMBINED) for inflation purpose and the data is released monthly.

For CPI base year is 2012.

It includes 448 products in rural and 460 in urban. Basket of products is higher than the WPI (whole sale price index)

55% of the products included are primary.

Difference between WPI and CPI:

WPI	CPI
1. It helps to know Inflationary trend.	In India RBI uses this data to calculate the inflation.
2. Gives more weightage to manufacturing ,fuel and power.	Gives more weightage to primary products.
3. Released by office of economic advisor, Ministry of commerce and industry. Base year is 2004-2005	Released by Ministry of statistics and program implementation. Base year is 2012.

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The Commonwealth:

Why in news?

2018 commonwealth group meeting scheduled at London.

About The Commonwealth:

It is an voluntary association of Independent and Equal sovereign states.

The commonwealth is an intergovernmental organization of 52 member states that are mostly former territories of the British Empire

Our member governments have agreed to pursue shared goals such as development, democracy and peace. These values and principles are expressed in the Commonwealth Charter.

The Commonwealth spans the globe, including both advanced economies and developing countries, in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Americas, Europe and the Pacific.

Our combined population is 2.4 billion, of which more than 60 per cent is aged under 30. Thirty members are small states, with a population under two million, and 25 are island nations.

The Commonwealth celebrates diversity and is made up of many faiths, races, languages, cultures and traditions. Most countries have similar legal and governance systems and, in English, a shared language.

A network of more than 80 intergovernmental, civil society, cultural and professional organisations help member countries to put Commonwealth values and principles into action.

Commonwealth organisations are involved in diverse activities, from helping countries with trade negotiations to encouraging women’s leadership, building the small business sector, supporting youth participation at all levels of society and providing experts to write laws.

The Commonwealth Secretariat, established in 1965, promotes democracy, rule of law, human rights, good governance and social and economic development. We are a voice for small states and a champion for youth empowerment.

Our approach emphasises country ownership by delivering technical assistance on a demand-driven basis.

The image shows the map of commonwealth member countries.

Interesting facts about commonwealth:

The Queen is Head of State in 16 of the 54 Commonwealth member countries, all of them fully independent

Queen Elizabeth II is represented by a Governor-General in all Realms except the United Kingdom. Some countries that come under her authority are Australia, New Zealand and many islands in The West Indies, like Antigua and Bermuda.

Combined GDP of commonwealth countries are greater than EU and their combined growth rate is 7.3%.

Conclusion:

UK and other countries in the group are expecting India to play a major role because India is a largest democracy in the world with diverse cultural identities, emerging economy with GDP of about $2.5 trillion, 2^nd largest populated country in the world where 65% of them under the age of 35.

This year visit by PM Modi signifies how the current administration looks commonwealth as an opportunity to attract investments. In coming years India will play a significant role in the grouping.

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South china sea(SCS):

Why in news?

Xi Jinping boarded on his country’s lone aircraft carrier Liaoning.

About SCS:

The South China Sea is located in the Pacific Ocean, south of China.

In China it is referred to as China Sea.

In Philippine agencies often refer to part of it as West Philippine Sea.

In Vietnam they refer to the South China Sea as the East Sea.

Countries that border the South China Sea include the People's Republic of China, the Philippines, Malaysia, Taiwan, Brunei, Indonesia, Vietnam, and Singapore.

Interesting South China Sea Facts:

The South China Sea covers an area of 1,400,000 square miles.

There are many rivers that flow into the South China Sea including Pasig River, Pampanga River, Pahang River, Rajang River, Mekong River, Red River, Jiulong River, Min River, and Pearl River.

It is believed that the South China Sea was created approximately 45 million years ago as a result of the large area referred to as 'dangerous ground' rifted away and opened up the sea.

It is estimated that more than one-half of all the shipping boats in the world pass through the South China Sea.

There are major gas and oil reserves believed to be located beneath the sea bed of the South China Sea.

Roughly 30% of the coral reefs in the world are located in the South China Sea.

The South China Sea is the main link between the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, connecting the Middle East, Europe, and East Asia with shipping lines.

Fishing is big business in the South China Sea. It is estimated that approximately 10% of the commercially caught ocean fish in the world are from the South China Sea.

The fishing industry in the South China Sea provides jobs for millions of people in the region.

For centuries China has claimed the majority of the South China Sea as its own.

There have been conflicts with other countries in South East Asia over its waters.

It is believed that if China controls all of the South China Sea it will limit the ability of foreign countries to move military through the waters.

The South China Sea is considered to be critical in terms of its marine bio-system.

Marine life that can be found in the South China Sea includes giant oysters, sharks, eels, and endangered sea turtles, as well as a variety of seabirds such as great crested terns, and streaked shearwaters.

Roughly 37% of reef fish species and 76% of coral species are found in the South China Sea, making its preservation extremely important.

China, Vietnam, the Philippines, Taiwan, Malaysia and Brunei all have competing claims.

China has backed its expansive claims with island-building and naval patrols. The US says it does not take sides in territorial disputes, but has sent military ships and planes near disputed islands, calling them "freedom of navigation" operations to ensure access to key shipping and air routes.

Both sides have accused each other of "militarising" the South China Sea.

There are fears that the area is becoming a flashpoint, with potentially serious global consequences.

Image captionThe Paracels and the Spratlys are two island chains claimed in whole or in part by a number of countries

What is the argument about?

It is a dispute over territory and sovereignty over ocean areas, and the Paracels and the Spratlys - two island chains claimed in whole or in part by a number of countries.

Alongside the fully fledged islands, there are dozens of rocky outcrops, atolls, sandbanks and reefs, such as the Scarborough Shoal.

Why are they worth arguing over?

The sea is a major shipping route and home to fishing grounds that supply the livelihoods of people across the region

Although largely uninhabited, the Paracels and the Spratlys may have reserves of natural resources around them. There has been little detailed exploration of the area, so estimates are largely extrapolated from the mineral wealth of neighbouring areas.

The sea is also a major shipping route and home to fishing grounds that supply the livelihoods of people across the region.

Who claims what?

China claims by far the largest portion of territory - an area defined by the "nine-dash line" which stretches hundreds of miles south and east from its most southerly province of Hainan.

A map issued by Beijing shows the two island groups falling entirely within its territory

Beijing says its right to the area goes back centuries to when the Paracel and Spratly island chains were regarded as integral parts of the Chinese nation, and in 1947 it issued a map detailing its claims. It showed the two island groups falling entirely within its territory. Those claims are mirrored by Taiwan.

However, critics say China has not clarified its claims sufficiently - and that the nine-dash line that appears on Chinese maps encompassing almost the entirety of the South China Sea includes no coordinates.

It is also not clear whether China claims only land territory within the nine-dash line, or all the territorial waters within the line as well.

Both the Philippines and China lay claim to the Scarborough Shoal, or Huangyan Island as it is known in China

Vietnam hotly disputes China's historical account, saying China had never claimed sovereignty over the islands before the 1940s. Vietnam says it has actively ruled over both the Paracels and the Spratlys since the 17th Century - and has the documents to prove it.

The other major claimant in the area is the Philippines, which invokes its geographical proximity to the Spratly Islands as the main basis of its claim for part of the grouping.

Both the Philippines and China lay claim to the Scarborough Shoal (known as Huangyan Island in China) - a little more than 100 miles (160km) from the Philippines and 500 miles from China.

Malaysia and Brunei also lay claim to territory in the South China Sea that they say falls within their economic exclusion zones, as defined by UNCLOS - the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

Brunei does not claim any of the disputed islands, but Malaysia claims a small number of islands in the Spratlys.

The Philippines has invoked its geographical proximity to the Spratly Islands as the main basis of its claim

Recent flashpoints:

The most serious trouble in recent decades has flared between Vietnam and China, and there have also been stand-offs between the Philippines and China. Some of the incidents include:

1. In 1974 the Chinese seized the Paracels from Vietnam, killing more than 70 Vietnamese troops.

2. In 1988 the two sides clashed in the Spratlys, with Vietnam again coming off worse, losing about 60 sailors.

3. In early 2012, China and the Philippines engaged in a lengthy maritime stand-off, accusing each other of intrusions in the Scarborough Shoal.

4. Unverified claims that the Chinese navy sabotaged two Vietnamese exploration operations in late 2012 led to large anti-China protests on Vietnam's streets.

5. In January 2013, Manila said it was taking China to a UN tribunal under the auspices of the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea, to challenge its claims.

6. In May 2014, the introduction by China of a drilling rig into waters near the Paracel Islands led to multiple collisions between Vietnamese and Chinese ships.

Have they tried to reach a resolution?

China prefers bilateral negotiations with the other parties. But many of its neighbours argue that China's relative size and clout give it an unfair advantage.

Some countries have argued that China should negotiate with Asean (the Association of South East Asian Nations), a 10-member regional grouping that consists of Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Laos, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia.

However, China is opposed to this, while Asean is also divided over how to resolve the dispute.

China has opposed negotiations with Asean, a 10-member regional grouping

The Philippines has sought international arbitration instead. In 2013, it announced it would take China to an arbitration tribunal under the auspices of the UN Convention on the Laws of the Sea, to challenge its claims.

In July 2016, the tribunal backed the Philippines' case, saying China had violated the Philippines' sovereign rights.

China had boycotted the proceedings, and called the ruling "ill-founded". It says it will not be bound by it.

India’s position on South China sea:

India did not commented yet on the territorial disputes between South east asian countries over SCS. But India called for peaceful resolution between warring parties and ensure freedom of navigation under UNCLOS(United Nations convention of laws of sea).

India’s example to solve the dispute:

After about 40 years, India and Bangladesh had resolved the dispute over NEW MOORE island.

PCA ruled that 4/5^th of 25,000sq.km of the island belong to Bangladesh.

The verdict, binding on both countries.

It opens the way for Bangladesh to explore for oil and gas in the Bay of Bengal, and ends a dispute over a sea border with India that has ruffled ties between the neighbours.

Even though India believes the delimitation has been done in an arbitrary fashion, it is not the loser. Control of the disputed New Moore Island and concomitant access to Hariabhanga river is a significant gain. The island, supposedly rich in oil and natural gas, has been a traditional sore point between the two neighbouring countries.

The Hariabhanga river, which flows around the Sundarbans in West Bengal and borders Satkhira district of Bangladesh, and the region holds twice the amount of hydrocarbons as compared to the Krishna-Godavari basin in Andhra Pradesh.

The verdict is also a good news for the fishermen of both countries who now have access to a larger area for fishing.

PERMENANT COURT OF ARBITRATION(PCA):

The PCA was the first permanent intergovernmental organization to provide a forum for the resolution of international disputes through arbitration and other peaceful means.

The PCA was established by the Convention for the Pacific Settlement of International Disputes, concluded at The Hague in 1899 during the first Hague Peace Conference.

Source : The hindu, BBc, PCA

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OPCW Findings:

Background:

Russian double agent skirpal and her daughter who lived in sailsbury,England. Recently, they were subjected to nerve agent known as “Novi chok”. Britain accused Russia for killing them while Russia awaited for the result of OPCW.

News in detail:

OPCW confirmed the findings of the United Kingdom relating to the identity of the toxic chemical but it refrained from who is to blame for the attack.

Russia called for consular access to daughter of skirpal who is still alive.

Brief description about Novichok:

The Novichok class of agents were reportedly developed in an attempt to circumvent the Chemical Weapons Treaty (chemical weapons are banned on the basis of chemical structure and therefore a new chemical agent is not subject to past treaties). They have reportedly been engineered to be undetectable by standard detection equipment and to defeat standard chemical protective gear. Like other nerve agents, the Novichok agents act by inhibiting the enzyme cholinesterase

About OPCW:

Refer to April 1^st Week Current Affairs to know detail about OPCW.

SOURCE: The hindhu,science direct

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Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Mission:

SOURCE: The hindhu,science direct.

Ayushman Bharat is National Health Protection Scheme, which will cover over 10 crore poor and vulnerable families (approximately 50 crore beneficiaries) providing coverage upto 5 lakh rupees per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalization. Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission will subsume the on-going centrally sponsored schemes - Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and the Senior Citizen Health Insurance Scheme (SCHIS).

Salient Features:

Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission will have a defined benefit cover of Rs. 5 lakh per family per year.

Benefits of the scheme are portable across the country and a beneficiary covered under the scheme will be allowed to take cashless benefits from any public/private empanelled hospitals across the country.

Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission will be an entitlement based scheme with entitlement decided on the basis of deprivation criteria in the SECC database.

The beneficiaries can avail benefits in both public and empanelled private facilities.

One of the core principles of Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission is to co-operative federalism and flexibility to states.

For giving policy directions and fostering coordination between Centre and States, it is proposed to set up Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission Council (AB-NHPMC) at apex level Chaired by Union Health and Family Welfare Minister.

States would need to have State Health Agency (SHA) to implement the scheme.

To ensure that the funds reach SHA on time, the transfer of funds from Central Government through Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission to State Health Agencies may be done through an escrow account directly.

In partnership with NITI Aayog, a robust, modular, scalable and interoperable IT platform will be made operational which will entail a paperless, cashless transaction.

IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY

At the national level to manage, an Ayushman Bharat National Health Protection Mission Agency (AB-NHPMA) would be put in place.

States/ UTs would be advised to implement the scheme by a dedicated entity called State Health Agency (SHA). They can either use an existing Trust/ Society/ Not for Profit Company/ State Nodal Agency (SNA) or set up a new entity to implement the scheme.

States/ UTs can decide to implement the scheme through an insurance company or directly through the Trust/ Society or use an integrated model.

Major Impact:

Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission will have major impact on reduction of Out of Pocket (OOP) expenditure on ground of:

EXPENDITURE INVOLVED

The expenditure incurred in premium payment will be shared between Central and State Governments in specified ratio as per Ministry of Finance guidelines in vogue. The total expenditure will depend on actual market determined premium paid in States/ UTs where Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission will be implemented through insurance companies. In States/ UTs where the scheme will be implemented in Trust/ Society mode, the central share of funds will be provided based on actual expenditure or premium ceiling (whichever is lower) in the pre-determined ratio.

NUMBER OF BENEFICIARIES:

Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission will target about 10.74 crore poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban workers' families as per the latest Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data

covering both rural and urban. The scheme is designed to be dynamic and aspirational and it would take into account any future changes in the exclusion/ inclusion/ deprivation/ occupational criteria in the SECC data.

STATES/DISTRICTS COVERED

Ayushman Bharat - National Health Protection Mission will be rolled out across all States/UTs in all districts with an objective to cover all the targeted beneficiaries.

Conclusion:

Increased benefit cover to nearly 40% of the population, (the poorest & the vulnerable)

Ayushman Bharat will lead to increased access to quality health and medication. In addition, the unmet needs of the population which remained hidden due to lack of financial resources will be catered to. This will lead to timely treatments, improvements in health outcomes, patient satisfaction, improvement in productivity and efficiency, job creation thus leading to improvement in quality of life.

12^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

Chief justice of India(CJI) and its powers:

Why in news?

It is CJI’s right to allot cases says SC.

BACKGROUND:

The issue of questioning the CJI power over allotment of cases came after the private newspaper in Gujarat during Gujarat elections 2017 that there was “suspicious” in the death of Judge Loya who presided over the CBI court which handled the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin. The case became so much importance because during that encounter happened the person in charge of Home minister in Gujarat was Amith shah who is currently serving as the National president of BJP. Judge Loya died while hearing that case.

After that the Judge who heared after Loya cleared the case within 15 days and aquitted Amith shah. The news paper alleged that the judge who aquitted Amit shah got 100 crore bribe and the death of Loya was also due to Amit shah. The case then transferred to SC. CJI had set up a Bench to hear that case. While these are happening in unprecedented manner in the history of SC 5 Senior most Judges organized the press conference and indirectly accused the CJI that CJI was not serious about this important case. After this incident the the question were raised about the “constitutionality of CJI” in allotting the cases in the SC.

In November 2017, SC held that CJI was “master of roaster” to constitue the benches and allocating cases.

RECENT SC JUDGEMENT:

This is the second time the SC declared the CJI as a “master of roaster” to constitute the benches and allocate the cases.

1. SC also mentioned that the CJI was “Institution in himself” with “excusive prerogative” to constitute the benches and allocate the cases. So there is no room for “preasumption of mistrust” against the high constitutional functionary.

2. Seniority in terms of judgement which has no beraing on which cases a judge should hear.

[Note: This was said in the judgement because there was tradition in appointing the senior most judge as SC CJI. But the former judge justice khehar while appointed was not senior most . This created controversy at that time. This judgement made it clear that CJI whether he is senior most or not it has no bearing on which cases judge should hear. This had cleared that this controversy should not spill into “conflict of interest” in future.

3. It also made it clear that one judge is more capable of deciding particular cases or that certain categories of cases should be assigned only to senior-most among the judges of the Supreme court has no foundation in principle or precedent. To hold otherwise would be to cast a reflection on the competence and ability of other judges to deal with cases assigned to them by the Chief justice.

4. CJI is only “First among the equals” as a judge, but is sui generis(one of his kind) in other capacities.

5. Entrustment of such authority in the Chief Justice is necessary for safeguarding the Supreme court as an “independent safeguard for the preservation of personal liberty

SOURCE: THE HINDHU

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NATIONAL NUTRITION MISSION:

BACKGROUND:

Government is implementing several schemes and programs like Anganwadi Services, Scheme for Adolescent Girls and Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojna under the Umbrella Integrated Child Development Services Scheme as direct targeted interventions to address the problem of malnutrition in the country.All these schemes address one or other aspects related to nutrition and have the potential to improve nutritional outcomes in the country.

About:

Malnutrition is not a direct cause of death but contributes to mortality and morbidity by reducing resistance to infections. There are a number of causes of death of children such as prematurity, low birth weight, pneumonia, diarrhoeal diseases, non-communicable diseases, birth asphyxia & birth trauma, injuries, congenital anomalies, acute bacterial sepsis and severe infections, etc.

MISSSION:

The Government has set up National Nutrition Mission (NNM) for improving the nutritional indicators of children and pregnant women and lactating mothers.

The Mission aims to prevent and reduce prevalence of stunting among children (0-6 years) in the country by 6%, undernutrition (underweight) prevalence among children (0-6 years) by 6%, prevalence of anaemia among children (6-59 m) by 9%, prevalence of anaemia among women (15-49 years) by 9% and reduction in prevalence of low birth weight by 6%.

The Goals set under the mission will be achieved by ensuring convergence with various programmes; incentivizing States/ UTs; IT enabled Real Time Monitoring (ICT-RTM) by using Smart Phones and Tablets; Evaluation; Community mobilisation awareness advocacy; IEC, Online Course on Nutrition for Children, Nutrition message from folk songs and songs on WASH, and strengthening human resource, etc.

DIFFERNCE BETWEEN UNDERNUTRITION AND MALNUTRITION:

UNDERNUTRITION:

Being undernutritioned could mean being underweight or too short according to age or excessively thin. An individual may not look dangerously thin but lack certain minerals and vitamins that may lead to further health complications. While risk of undernutrition is higher in poor class people, unhealthy food habits can lead to undernutrition even in affluent class children or adults.

MALNUTRITION:

What is malnutrition?

Malnutrition, on the other hand, is not just deficiency but also an excess of nutrients or vitamins in the body. Following are some types of malnutrition.

1. Lack of vitamins and minerals: The body needs a proper dose of certain vitamins and minerals. Deficiency of these can lead to severe health problems and cause various ailments too. Iron deficiency leading to anemia is the most common form of malnutrition in the country which mostly affects pregnant women and children. Zinc deficiency is also prevalent in many kids, leading to weak immunity and improper growth. Vitamin A deficiency due to improper food habits weakens the immunity, thereby increasing risks of diseases and child blindness.

2. Overnutrition: Malnutrition of this type arises from eating too much, lack of physical activity, eating junk or wrong foods and intake of too many supplements. Obesity and being overweight are causes of over nutrition and is prevalent in the affluent classes of the country.

NOTE: Over 923 million people in the world are undernourished. India has 42 percent of the world’s underweight children and a third of the women in the reproductive age group are under-nourished

SOURCE: THE HINDHU

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DERIVATIVES:

WHY IN NEWS?

SINGAPORE Exchange to offer 3 new India derivative products.

ABOUT:

1. A derivative is a contract between two or more parties whose value is based on an agreed-upon underlying financial asset (like a security) or set of assets. Common underlying instruments include bonds, commodities, currencies, interest rates, market indexes and stocks.

2. Futures contracts, forward contracts, options, swaps, and warrants are common derivatives.

3. A futures contract, for example, is a derivative because its value is affected by the performance of the underlying contract.

4. Similarly, a stock option is a derivative because its value is "derived" from that of the underlying stock. While a derivative's value is based on an asset, ownership of a derivative doesn't mean ownership of the asset.

5. Generally belonging to the realm of advanced or technical investing, derivatives are used for speculating and hedging purposes. Speculators seek to profit from changing prices in the underlying asset, index or security.

6. For example, while the farmer is assured of a specified price for the commodity, prices could rise (due to, for instance, a shortage because of weather-related events) and the farmer will end up losing any additional income that could have been earned. Likewise, prices for the commodity could drop, and the miller will have to pay more for the commodity than he otherwise would have.

SOURCE : INVESTOPEDIA

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COAL BED METHANE:

WHY IN NEWS?

CCEA(Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs) approved the extraction Coal bed methane

About:

Picture shows how the coal bed methane is extracted.

1. Coalbed methane (CBM or coal-bed methane),coalbed gas, coal seam gas (CSG), or coal-mine methane (CMM) is a form of natural gas extracted from coal beds. In recent decades it has become an important source of energy in United States, Canada, Australia, and other countries.

2. The term refers to methane adsorbed into the solid matrix of the coal.

3. It is called 'sweet gas' because of its lack of hydrogen sulfide.

4. The presence of this gas is well known from its occurrence in underground coal mining, where it presents a serious safety risk.

5. Coalbed methane is distinct from a typical sandstone or other conventional gas reservoir, as the methane is stored within the coal by a process called adsorption.

6. The methane is in a near-liquid state, lining the inside of pores within the coal . The open fractures in the coal (called the cleats) can also contain free gas or can be saturated with water.

7. Unlike much natural gas from conventional reservoirs, coalbed methane contains very little heavier hydrocarbons such as propane or butane, and no natural-gas condensate. It often contains up to a few percent carbon dioxide.

What is the difference between adsorption and absorption?

Adsorption is the adhesion of molecules of gas, liquid, or dissolved solids to a surface. This process creates a film of the adsorbate (the molecules or atoms being accumulated) on the surface of the adsorbent. It differs from absorption, in which a fluid permeates or is dissolved by a liquid or solid.

SOURCE: THE HINDHU
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INTERNATIONAL SOLAR ALLIANCE(ISA):

Why in news?

Cabinet clears pact to formalize ISA HQ in India.

BACKGROUND:

1. There is no specific body in place to address the specific solar technology deployment needs of the solar resource rich countries located between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn.

2. Most of these countries are geographically located for optimal absorption of the sun’s rays. There is a great amount of sunlight year-round which can lead to cost effective solar power and other end useswith high insolation of almost 300 sunny days in a year.

3. Most of the countries have large agrarian populations. Many countries face gaps in the potential solar energy manufacturing eco-system.

4. Absence of universal energy access, energy equity and affordability are issues common to most of the solar resource rich countries.

5. International Solar Alliance (ISA) is conceived as a coalition of solar resource rich countries to address their special energy needs and will provide a platform to collaborate on addressing the identified gaps through a common, agreed approach.

6. It will not duplicate or replicate the efforts that others (like International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Partnership(REEEP), International Energy Agency (IEA), Renewable Energy Policy

7. Network for the 21st Century (REN21), United Nations bodies, bilateral organizations etc.) are currently engaged in, but will establish networks and develop synergies with them and supplement their efforts in a sustainable and focused manner.

With this aim ISA was launched at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Paris on 30th November, 2015 by Mr. Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India and Mr. François Hollande former President of France, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Ban Ki Moon, the then Secretary General of the United Nations.

About ISA:

The International Solar Alliance is a treaty based international inter-governmental alliance of 121 solar resource rich countries lying fully or partially between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn

There are no targets or legal obligations imposed on member-countries.

UN member countries which are located beyond the Tropics can join the ISA as “Partner Countries”.

United Nations including its organs can join the ISA as “Strategic Partners”.

Organizations that have potential to help the ISA achieve its objectives including· regional inter-governmental economic integration organizations constituted by sovereign states at least one of which is a member of the ISA can join the ISA as a “Partner Organization”.

It further aims to formulate financial instruments to effectively mobilize more than US$1000 billion dollars in investments that will be required by 2030 for the massive deployment of affordable solar energy and pave the way for future solar generation, storage and good technologies for each prospective member country’s individual needs.

Structure of ISA:

1. The ISA will have a two-tier structure – the Assembly and the Secretariat

2. Each member-country is represented on the Assembly, which meets annually at the Ministerial level at the seat of the ISA. The Assembly may also meet under special circumstances.

3. The Assembly makes all necessary decisions regarding the functioning of the ISA, including the selection of the Director General and approval of the operating budget.

4. Each Member has one vote in the Assembly

5. Partner Countries, Partner Organizations, Strategic Partners, and Observers may participate without having the right to vote.

6. Decisions on questions of procedure are taken by a simple majority of the Members present and voting. Decisions on matters of substance are taken by two-third majority of the Members present and voting. Decisions regarding specific Programmes are taken by countries participating in this Programme.

7. The Secretariat comprises of a Director General, who is the Chief Executive Officer and other staff as may be required. The Director General is selected by and responsible to the Assembly, for a term of four years, renewable for one further term.

8. The Secretariat shall prepare matters for Assembly action and carries out decisions entrusted to it by the Assembly. It will ensure that appropriate steps are taken to follow up Assembly decisions and to coordinate the actions of Members in the implementation of such decisions.

There is no membership-fee to join the ISA.

All costs relating to the running of the ISA will be funded through voluntary contributions of member-countries, partner countries, partner organizations and Strategic Partners. Funds will also be raised through specific activities approved by the Assembly of the ISA.

ABOUT SOLAR MAMAS:

Solar mamas who were known as solar engineers trained by skilled professionals from India.

The programme to train women from Africa and other developing countries, started in 2008, is funded by the Indian government and has been popular with African women over the years.

Since its inception in 2008, graduates of the solar engineering programme have electrified 1,015 villages in 68 countries, changing the lives of 500,000 villagers

INDIA’S RENEWABLE ENERGY TARGET:

GOI aimed to create 175GW from renewable energy.

Among 175GW,

100GW from solar

60GW from wind

10 GW from bio-energy sources.

5GW from Hydropower.

India had crossed 60 GW of renewable energy capacity last September.

SOURCE : ISA,PIB

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NATIONAL MISSSION FOR CLEAN GANGA(NMCG):

About NMCA:

National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG) was registered as a society on 12th August 2011 under the Societies Registration Act 1860.

It acted as implementation arm of National Ganga River Basin Authority(NGRBA) which was constituted under the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act (EPA),1986.

NGRBA has since been dissolved with effect from the 7th October 2016, consequent to constitution of National Council for Rejuvenation, Protection and Management of River.

The Act envisages five tier structure at national, state and district level to take measures for prevention, control and abatement of environmental pollution in river Ganga and to ensure continuous adequate flow of water so as to rejuvenate the river Ganga as below;

1. National Ganga Council under chairmanship of Hon’ble Prime Minister of India.
2. Empowered Task Force (ETF) on river Ganga under chairmanship of Hon’ble Union Minister of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation.
3. National Mission for Clean Ganga(NMCG).
4. State Ganga Committees and
5. District Ganga Committees in every specified district abutting river Ganga and its tributaries in the states.

NMCG has a two tier management structure and comprises of Governing Council and Executive Committee. Both of them are headed by Director General,

NMCG. Executive Committee has been authorized to accord approval for all projects up to Rs.1000 crore.

Similar to structure at national level, State Programme Management Groups (SPMGs) acts as implementing arm of State Ganga Committees.

Thus the newly created structure attempts to bring all stakeholders on one platform to take a holistic approach towards the task of Ganga cleaning and rejuvenation.

Namami Gange Programme:

? ‘Namami Gange Programme’, is an Integrated Conservation Mission, approved as ‘Flagship Programme’ by the Union Government in June 2014 with budget outlay of Rs.20,000 Crore to accomplish the twin objectives of effective abatement of pollution, conservation and rejuvenation of National River Ganga.

? Main pillars of the Namami Gange Programme are:-

Sewerage Treatment Infrastructure

River-Front Development

River-Surface Cleaning

Bio-Diversity

Afforestation

Public Awareness

Industrial Effluent Monitoring

Ganga Gram.

ABOUT GANGA:

It is the largest river in India.

It is an transboundary river flowing through India and Bangladesh.

It is a sacred river for Hindhus.

Large number of livelihood depends on river Ganga about 40% India’s population living along the river Ganga.

he Ganges is highly polluted. Pollution threatens not only humans, but also more than 140 fish species, 90 amphibian species and the endangered Ganges river dolphin.The levels of fecal coliform bacteria from human waste in the waters of the river near Varanasi are more than 100 times the Indian government's official limit.

SOURCE: MINISTRY OFWATER RESOURCES, RIVER DEVELOPMENT & GANGA REJUVENATION

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IRNS-1I:

Why in news?

ISRO successfully launched IRNSS-1I.

News in detail:

Eighth in the series, the 1425- kg launched through PSLV C41 completes the first phase of the Indian regional navigation constellation.

The navigation satellites, dubbed India's own GPS (Global Positioning System), are meant for giving precise information of position, navigation and time of objects or people.

It is on par with US-based GPS, Russia’s Glonass and Galileo developed by Europe.

They have a civilian and a restricted military/security application.

Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS) : NAVIC

IRNSS is an independent regional navigation satellite system being developed by India.

It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India as well as the region extending up to 1500 km from its boundary.

IRNSS will provide two types of services, namely,

1)Standard Positioning Service (SPS) which is provided to all the users.

2)Restricted Service (RS), which is an encrypted service provided only to the authorised users.

The IRNSS System is expected to provide a position accuracy of better than 20 m in the primary service area.

Some applications of IRNSS are:

1. Terrestrial, Aerial and Marine Navigation

2. Disaster Management

3. Vehicle tracking and fleet management

4. Integration with mobile phones

5. Precise Timing

6. Mapping and Geodetic data capture

7. Terrestrial navigation aid for hikers and travellers

8. Visual and voice navigation for drivers

11^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

Intellectual property rights(IPR):

What is Intellectual Property?

* Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions; literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.

* IP is protected in law by, for example, patents, copyright and trademarks, which enable people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent or create.

* By striking the right balance between the interests of innovators and the wider public interest, the IP system aims to foster an environment in which creativity and innovation can flourish.

Copyright:

Patents

What is a patent?

* A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention, which is a product or a process that provides, in general, a new way of doing something, or offers a new technical solution to a problem.

* To get a patent, technical information about the invention must be disclosed to the public in a patent application

What is copyright?

* Copyright (or author’s right) is a legal term used to describe the rights that creators have over their literary and artistic works.

* Works covered by copyright range from books, music, paintings, sculpture, and films, to computer programs, databases, advertisements, maps, and technical drawings.

Trademarks

What is a trademark?

* A trademark is a sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one enterprise from those of other enterprises.

* Trademarks are protected by intellectual property rights.

Industrial Designs

What is an industrial design?

* In a legal sense, an industrial design constitutes the ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article.

* An industrial design may consist of three dimensional features, such as the shape of an article, or two dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or color.

What is a geographical indication?

* A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities or a reputation that are due to that origin.

* In order to function as a GI, a sign must identify a product as originating in a given place.

*  In addition, the qualities, characteristics or reputation of the product should be essentially due to the place of origin.

* Since the qualities depend on the geographical place of production, there is a clear link between the product and its original place of production.

What does World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) mean?

* The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is a United Nations (U.N.) agency charged with protecting intellectual property (IP) through an international system that promotes and sustains creativity and innovation and helps develop international economies.

WIPO is dedicated to protecting IP by working with worldwide organizations.

* Headquarters of WIPO is Geneva.

The TRIPs regime:

* A breakthrough of the GATT signed in 1994 was that it brought TRIPs as a common standard for the protection of intellectual property globally.

* Implication of TRIPs is that member countries should design domestic intellectual property legislations on the basis of the TRIPs provisions.

TRIPs as WTO’s IPR regime

TRIPs is considered as a major achievement of the Uruguay Round as an international trade agreement. At the trade negotiations, the developed countries were succeeded in linking intellectual property rights with trade. Until then, the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) was the exclusive international institution dealing with intellectual property. With TRIPs, the WTO also emerged as the institution for the protection and promotion of intellectual property globally.

What TRIPs instructs to member countries?

* As per the TRIPs provisions, the member countries are required to prepare the necessary legal framework spelling out the scope and standards of protection for rights in regard to intellectual property. Or in other words, the member countries have to adopt TRIPs provisions in their domestic intellectual property legislations like Patent Act, Copyright Act etc.

* WTO advocate necessary amendments to national IPR laws to accommodate the TRIPs provisions.

* TRIPs agreement is an effort to bring national legislations under common international rules.

* An important feature of TRIPs is that it is more specific and hard on ‘patents’ -the most important form of intellectual property.

* In the case of plant rights, geographical indications etc., members can adopt a sui-generis (own designed) IPR regime.

* WTO gives following areas of intellectual property – copyright and related rights, trademarks, protection of undisclosed information (trade secrets), geographical indications, industrial designs, integrated circuits, patents, and control of anti-competitive practices in contractual licences.

* Signing TRIPs means countries have to modify their Patent Act, Copy Right Act, Trade Mark Act etc., in accordance with the provisions of the TRIPs.

* In India, the government has made a major amendment to the 1970 Patent Act in 2005 to accommodate the TRIPs provisions. In 2010, the Copyright Act was amended and enforced from 2012. Other legislations with respect to Industrial designs also have been made.

The rationale for WTO’s effort to bring an intellectual property protection regime globally:

The WTO supports IPR regime under its leadership on the ground that intellectual property is a trade related asset. It asserts that an international attempt is needed because of the wide differences existing in the intellectual property regime across the world.

Product Patent and Process patent:

* A patent is defined as a statutory privilege granted by the government to inventors, and to other persons deriving their rights from the inventor, for fixed years, to exclude other persons from manufacturing, using or selling a patented product or process. Hence a patent can be for a process or for a product.

* There is strict divergence between product and process patent regimes. The developed countries follow product patent system. On the other, process patent system is preferred by the developing world. The two systems are known for their different levels of protection to inventors.

* Under a process patent, the patent is granted for a particular manufacturing process, and not for the product itself. Any other person can produce the same product through some other PROCESS, modifying the various parameters. The implication is that there will be more than one producer for the same product because of the possibility of different process for the manufacturing of the product.

*Weakness of the process patent regime is that it gives less protection for the inventor. There is high tendency for competitors to reengineer the original invention by discovering a new process with less strain and investment. Benefit of process patent regime is that it reduces the element of monopoly.

* In the case of product patent, it is an exclusive right given to the original inventor of a product. This means that no other manufacturer can provide the same product through the same or any other process. The implication is that there will not be a competitor for the producer as it is the product which is patented. Product patent system gives higher level of protection to the inventor as there will not be any other patent holder. TRIPs follow the product patent regime.

* India’s 1970 Patent Act allowed only process patent before it was amended in 2005 to comply with WTO’s TRIPs provisions under which there is only product patents.

A view of developed and developing countries about the patent law:

Developed countries are for strong IPR protection and highlight its virtues in creating knowledge wealth, encouraging innovation, providing access to technology, stemming brain drain and improving of quality of life.

For emerging countries like ours, having good educational institutions, strong manufacturing base and talented manpower, IPRs offer enormous opportunities. This is especially true in the field of Biotechnology, Information Technology and Pharmaceuticals.

Which department registers the patent applications in India?

* Office of controller general of patents,designs and Trade marks,Department of Industrial policy and Promotion

* It comes under Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

National Intellectual Property Rights Policy:

Mission

The mission of the new IPR policy is to stimulate a dynamic, vibrant and balanced IPR system in India which can foster creativity and innovation and thereby promote entrepreneurship, enhance development, enhance access to healthcare, food security; enhance environmental protection etc.

Seven Objectives

* The Policy lays down the following seven objectives:

* To increase public awareness about IPR and their economic, social and cultural benefits.

* To stimulate creation of IPR in the country.

* To create a strong legal and legislative framework around IPR.

* To modernize administration and management of IPR

* To promote commercialisation of IPR.

* To strengthen enforcement and adjudication mechanism around IPR

* To expand Human Capital Development.

Goals

* The IPR policy has spelled out some tangible goals as follows:

* Reducing the time taken on clearing the backlog of IPR applications from current 5 to 7 years to 18 months by March 2018.

* Approve trademark applications within one month by 2018. Currently, a trademark approval takes around 13 months on average.

* Cover Films, music, industrial drawings by copyright.

* To review the policy in five years in consultation with stakeholders.

* The Policy also seeks to facilitate domestic IPR filings, for the entire value chain from IPR generation to commercialisation. It aims to promote research and development through tax benefits.

One of the major allegations is that government has released this policy under pressure of US and lobbying groups in that country. What kinds of pressures are these?

1. The IP rights were included in the international trade regulations as a part of the Uruguay Round (1986-94) and thus resulted in the TRIPS {Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights} Agreement.

2. This agreement provided a framework on how the IP rights have to be protected, particularly of companies that invest huge amounts in inventions and creation of patents.

3. In summary, these provisions demanded that every party to TRIPS will have to create domestic laws and regulations to create a sound protection system. However, within the TRIPs agreement, some flexibilities were included in favour of public interest for developing / least developed countries. These flexibilities allowed such countries relaxation in domestic laws.

4. However, this is a major issue for companies engaged in pharma because they wanted strict IPR laws in the countries where they sell their products. So, the pharma TNCs chose to not to recognize these flexibilities and deployed various ways to curb use of flexibilities. Using such flexibilities, India made two special provisions in its domestic law viz. compulsory license and Section 3(d) in patent law.

The compulsory license :

1. The compulsory license enabled grant of compulsory license for export of medicines to countries which have insufficient or no manufacturing capacity.

2. This was done to keep India’s generic drug exports to Africa and other countries alive and competitive.

3. The Section 3(d) of Indian Patents Act puts caveat on some inventions which are not patentable (sets a novelty standard for patents).

4. Both of these provisions have been controversial because they directly harm the interests of pharma MNCs (multi national companies)and TNCs(Trans National Companies).

5. Meanwhile, due to these laws, the MNCs found whatever method deployed for protection of their IPR useless. They intensified lobbying with USTR {United States Trade Representative} to categorize India as a “preferred” foreign country in the Special 301 report that carried with it the threat of trade sanctions. These pressures led creation of a high level working group to discuss the IP issues {between US and India}.

6. Thus, for the first time, India agreed to engage bilaterally with US on IPR issues. Since the government was also in the process of creation of new IPR, it got attention of US and US industry groups. There was a speculation that DIPP and Indian patent office came under the influence of US and shaped India’s new IPR policy under that influence only.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRANS NATIONAL CORPORATIONS (MNC) AND MULTI NATIONAL CORPORATIONS(TNC):

What do the critics say about this policy?

Acknowledging some of the positives of the new IPR policy such as expedited examination, an open IP exchange, and the infusion of CSR funds into open innovation, the critics say that this policy unduly skews in favour of a reductionist and one-dimensional IP/innovation frame. Most of these criticisms are rhetoric only.

EVERGREENING OF PATENTS:

1. Patent is a monopoly right given for a limited period to an inventor in return of his disclosure of an invention that is new, useful and non-obvious product or process.

2. In India patents are granted for a maximum term of 20 years (provided it is maintained by paying yearly fees). After the expiry the patent, the invention is free for use, manufacture, sell or import.

3. However, there are patentees (mostly pharmaceutical companies) who attempt to extend this monopoly right beyond the period of 20 years. When the term of patent is about to end these companies make trivial /insignificant variations to the existing patented invention and files for new patent, thus extending their monopoly. This is called evergreening of patent.

4. In many cases, generic products are available in the market once the patent expires. With these generic products from different companies, a competition in the market sets in. This results in lowering of price of the product.

Evergreening of patents do not allow the price of a product coming down due to extension of monopoly of the patentee.

In India, section 3(d) of the Patent Act, 1970 do not allow

* mere discovery of a new form of a known substance (without enhanced efficacy) or

* mere discovery of any new property for a known substance or

* mere discovery of new use for a known substance or

* discovery of mere use of a known process, machine or apparatus.

This is a section incorporated in The Patent Act to initiate resistance to evergreening of patents. Thus, evergreening of patents are not be easy in India (in contrast to many other countries).

This brings in a relief for poor patients who depend on life saving drugs. It also helps in keeping the price of essential drugs within the reach of common people.

Conclusion:

1. Patenting rights is must to encourage innovative and creative minds but at the same time it should not affect the developing countries which are in the initial stage of development.

2. Distribution of HIV drug at low cost is possible today because of compulsory license which had saved millions of life all over the world especially developing countries Worls health organisation report say.

3. WTO should take action against those MNC’S and TNC’S who are pressurizing the developing countries to amend their domestic IPR laws so that they can gain a lot.

SOURCE: The hindhu,WIPO,Ministry of commerce,WTO

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LOKPAL AND LOKAYUKTHA :

ABOUT:

The Lokpal is the central governing body that has jurisdiction over all Members of Parliament and central government employees in cases of corruption.

The Lokayuktas are similar to the Lokpal, but function on a state level.

BACKGROUND:

1. The term Lokpal was first coined by late Mr. L.M. Singhvi, a member of parliament, in 1963 during a debate. Today, the term has come to mean, the "caretaker of the people." The term was the basis for the Lokpal Bill, which was first drafted and introduced in 1968 by Adv. Shanti Bhushan. It was an anti-corruption bill that aimed to address the rampant corruption in India.

2. In 2011, India ranked 95th in the Corruption Perceptions Index of Transparency International. A recent survey estimated that corruption in India had cost billions of dollars and threatened to derail growth. According to a report by Washington-based Global Financial Integrity, India lost $462 billion post-Independence in illicit financial flows due to tax evasion, crime and corruption.

3. In 1969, the Lokpal Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha, but was tabled in the Rajya Sabha. Various versions of the bill kept getting submitted and eventually tabled. This happened again and again in the following years: 1971, 1977, 1985, 1989, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005 and in 2008.

4. However, people were tired of waiting, so activists formed a campaign called "India Against Corruption" (IAC), which was led by Anna Hazare. They supported a new version of the Lokpal Bill, titled Jan Lokpal Bill, i.e. ‘caretaker of ALL people.’ This bill was submitted in 2011, and after much debate and even hunger strikes by Anna Hazare, the bill was eventually passed in 2013, as The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013, commonly known as The Lokpal Act.

Comparison between Lokpal and Lokayukta:

Lokpal

Lokayukta

Description

Central governing body that has jurisdiction over all Members of Parliament and central government employees in cases of corruption.

State level governing bodies that has jurisdiction over state government employees in cases of corruption.

Function

To address complaints of corruption, to make inquiries, investigations, and to conduct trials for the cases.

To address complaints of corruption, to make inquiries, investigations, and to conduct trials for the cases.

Scope

On a national government level basis

On a state level basis

Responsibility

Corruption in the central government

Corruption in the state government

Committee

a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, of which 50% will be judicial members 50% members of Lokpal shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, minorities and women

Proposal: three-member body, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge or high court chief justice and comprising the state vigilance commissioner and a jurist or an eminent administrator as other members

The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013

1. The historic Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013 was passed by Indian Parliament paving the way for establishment of a Lokpal (Ombudsman) to fight corruption in public offices and ensure accountability on the part of public officials, including the Prime Minister, but with some safeguards.

2. Lokpal will consist of a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, of which 50% will be judicial members 50% members of Lokpal shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, minorities and women.

3. Selection of chairperson and members of Lokpal through a selection committee consisting of PM, Speaker of Lok Sabha, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha, Chief Justice of India or a sitting Supreme Court judge nominated by CJI. Eminent jurist to be nominated by President of India on basis of recommendations of the first four members of the selection committee "through consensus".

4. Lokpal's jurisdiction will cover all categories of public servants. All entities (NGOs) receiving donations from foreign source in the context of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) in excess of Rs 10 lakh per year are under the jurisdiction of Lokpal.

5. Centre will send Lokpal bill to states as a model bill. States have to set up Lokayuktas through a state law within 365 days.

6. Lokpal will have power of superintendence and direction over any central investigation agency including CBI for cases referred to them by the ombudsman.

7. A high-powered committee chaired by the PM will recommend selection of CBI director. The collegium will comprise PM, leader of opposition in Lok Sabha and Chief Justice of India PM has been brought under purview of the Lokpal, so also central ministers and senior officials.

8. Directorate of prosecution will be under overall control of CBI director. At present, it comes under the law ministry.

9. Appointment of director of prosecution to be based on recommendation of the Central Vigilance Commission.

10.Director of prosecution will also have a fixed tenure of two years like CBI chief.

11. Transfer of CBI officers investigating cases referred by Lokpal with the approval of watchdog.

12. Bill incorporates provisions for attachment and confiscation of property acquired by corrupt means, even while prosecution is pending.

13. Bill lays down clear timelines for preliminary enquiry and investigation and trial. Provides for special courts Public servants will not present their view before preliminary enquiry if the case requires 'element of surprise' like raids and searches.

14. Bill grants powers to Lokpal to sanction prosecution against public servants.

15. CBI may appoint a panel of advocates with approval of Lokpal, CBI will not have to depend on govt advocates.

What was the controversy about the lokpal?

1. High powered committee of lokpal mentions about “leader of opposition(LOP)”. But in case if the criteria of LOP had not secured by political party then there will be no LOP in the high powered committee. If there is no LOP then the members will be only are the one who oppointed directly appointed by the ruling party which will not serve the purpose the act.

2. Currently in lokshaba no party secured required seats to become an LOP. So currently the single largest political party in lokshaba is congress but they have no required seats to elect LOP so they are demanding the center to amend the lokpal act to accommodate single largest party in lokshaba in case if no political party is not able elect LOP.

Conclusion:

There are laws for everything in this country. Framing laws alone will not help the laws will be effective only when it is implemented properly.

Corruption can’t be eliminated without the peoples support in curbing this crime. To make people come forward and report the corruption without fear “whistleblower act” should be enacted .

   SOURCE: INDIAN EXPRESS

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NATIONAL COMMISSION OF SCHDULED CASTES AND SCHDULED TRIBES:

Why in news?

Nothing wrong in adding Ramji, says Scheduled Castes panel chief.

BACKGROUND:

Recently Uttar Pradesh(U.P) government have ordered the state authorities to change the name of Bhimrao Ambedkar to Bhimrao Ramji Ambedkar by adding “Ramji” which created controversy as opposition claims it is an imposition of “Hindutva” ideology but government defended it by saying that the name used by Ambedkar himself while signing the Indian constitution.

ABOUT NCSC:

National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) is an Indian constitutional body

The following are the functions of the commission:

1. To investigate and monitor all matters relating to the safeguards provided for the Scheduled Castes under this Constitution or under any other law for the time being in force or under any order of the Government and to evaluate the working of such safeguards;

2. To inquire into specific complaints with respect to the deprivation of rights and safeguards of the Scheduled Castes;

3. To participate and advise on the planning process of socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes and to evaluate the progress of their development under the Union and any State;

4. To present to the President, annually and at such other times as the Commission may deem fit, reports upon the working of those safeguards;

5. To make in such reports recommendations as to the measures that should be taken by the Union or any State for the effective implementation of those safeguards and other measures for the protection, welfare and socio-economic development of the Scheduled Castes; and

6. To discharge such other functions in relation to the protection, welfare and development and advancement of the Scheduled Castes as the President may, subject to the provisions of any law made by Parliament.

   SOURCE: NCSC website.

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Essential Commodities Act:

Why in news?

Crowd sourcing of data on Prices of 22 essential food items monitored by Department of Consumer Affairs through its website.

About the act:

* An Act to provide, in the interests of the general public, for the control of the production, supply and distribution of, and trade and commerce in, certain commodities.

* The Essential Commodities Act is an act of Parliament of India which was established to ensure the delivery of certain commodities or products, the supply of which if obstructed owing to hoarding or blackmarketing would affect the normal life of the people. This includes foodstuff, drugs, fuel (petroleum products) etc.

* The ECA was enacted way back in 1955. It has since been used by the Government to regulate the production, supply and distribution of a whole host of commodities it declares ‘essential’in order to make them available to consumers at fair prices.

* The list of items under the Act include drugs, fertilisers, pulses and edible oils, and petroleum and petroleum products. The Centre can include new commodities as and when the need arises, and take them off the list once the situation improves.

* Here’s how it works. If the Centre finds that a certain commodity is in short supply and its price is spiking, it can notify stock-holding limits on it for a specified period. The States act on this notification to specify limits and take steps to ensure that these are adhered to. Anybody trading or dealing in a commodity, be it wholesalers, retailers or even importers are prevented from stockpiling it beyond a certain quantity.

*A State can, however, choose not to impose any restrictions. But once it does, traders have to immediately sell into the market any stocks held beyond the mandated quantity. This improves supplies and brings down prices. As not all shopkeepers and traders comply, State agencies conduct raids to get everyone to toe the line and the errant are punished. The excess stocks are auctioned or sold through fair price shops

* It will be under ministry of consumer affairs.

SOURCE:pib,Ministry of consumer affairs.

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Champaran sathyagraha:

Why in news?

PM addresses 20,000 Swachhagrahis to ma

10^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

OPERATION INSANIYAT:

Why in news?

India had extended full support to Dhaka’s repatriation of Rohingyas to Bangladesh.

What is Operation Insaniyat?

India had send relief materials which includes food items and others to hapless Rohingyas who were displaced by Myanmar army from Rakhine state. India always extended her support in need of an hour to her neighbors. This is in line of India’s “neighborhood first policy”.

BACKGROUND:

Rohingyas are minorities which include both Hindhus and muslims living in Rakhine state of Myanmar. They were not recognized by Myanmar as “citizens”. Army in myanmar which runs parallel government considers them as “illegal immigrants” who came from Bangladesh but Rohingyas considers them as “ethnic people” whose ancestors from Myanmar itself. After a ANLA(Arakan National Liberation Army) which was declared as “terror oufit” in Myanmar launced scatching attack on army last year. Soon the army launced big attack on ANLA .

This soon turned into attack on whole Rohingyas. After this attack Rohingyas to save their life started taking refugee in neighboring Bangladesh. By this over 8 lakh Rohingyas were living in a dilipitated condition in the refugee camps. UNHRC(United Nations Human Rights Council) described this incident as “textbook example of ethnic cleanising”. Now talks are going on between two governments of Bangladesh and Myanmar to displace the rohingyas to their original place of Rakhine state.

Source: The Hindhu

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SYRIA WAR:

Why in news?

Syrian government was under severe criticism from world leaders for using “chemical weapons” against rebel held areas.

BACKGROUND:

FULL HISTORY FORM WHERE WAR STARTED AND WHAT IS THE SITUATION NOW:

Why is there a war in Syria?

A peaceful uprising against the president of Syria seven years ago has turned into a full-scale civil war. The conflict has left more than 350,000 people dead, devastated cities and drawn in other countries.

How did the Syrian war start?

Even before the conflict began, many Syrians were complaining about high unemployment, corruption and a lack of political freedom under President Bashar al-Assad, who succeeded his late father Hafez in 2000.

In March 2011, pro-democracy demonstrations erupted in the southern city of Deraa, inspired by the "Arab Spring" in neighbouring countries.

When the government used deadly force to crush the dissent, protests demanding the president's resignation erupted nationwide.

The unrest spread and the crackdown intensified. Opposition supporters took up arms, first to defend themselves and later to rid their areas of security forces. Mr Assad vowed to crush what he called "foreign-backed terrorism".

The violence rapidly escalated and the country descended into civil war.

What is the war about?

It is now more than a battle between those for or against Mr Assad.

Many groups and countries - each with their own agendas - are involved, making the situation far more complex and prolonging the fighting.

They have been accused of fostering hatred between Syria's religious groups, pitching the Sunni Muslim majority against the president's Shia Alawite sect.

Such divisions have led both sides to commit atrocities, torn communities apart and dimmed hopes of peace.

They have also allowed the jihadist groups Islamic State (IS) and al-Qaeda to flourish.

Syria's Kurds, who want the right of self-government but have not fought Mr Assad's forces, have added another dimension to the conflict.

Who's involved?

The government's key supporters are Russia and Iran, while the US, Turkey and Saudi Arabia back the rebels.

Russia - which already had military bases in Syria - launched an air campaign in support of Mr Assad in 2015 that has been crucial in turning the tide of the war in the government's favour.

The Russian military says its strikes only target "terrorists" but activists say they regularly kill mainstream rebels and civilians.

Iran is believed to have deployed hundreds of troops and spent billions of dollars to help Mr Assad.

Thousands of Shia Muslim militiamen armed, trained and financed by Iran - mostly from Lebanon's Hezbollah movement, but also Iraq, Afghanistan and Yemen - have also fought alongside the Syrian army.

The US, UK, France and other Western countries have provided varying degrees of support for what they consider "moderate" rebels.

A global coalition they lead has also carried out air strikes on IS militants in Syria since 2014 and helped an alliance of Kurdish and Arab militias called the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) capture territory from the jihadists.

Turkey has long supported the rebels but it has focused on using them to contain the Kurdish militia that dominates the SDF, accusing it of being an extension of a banned Kurdish rebel group in Turkey.

Saudi Arabia, which is keen to counter Iranian influence, has also armed and financed the rebels.

Israel, meanwhile, has been so concerned by shipments of Iranian weapons to Hezbollah in Syria that it has conducted air strikes in an attempt to thwart them.

Neighbouring Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, where 92% of them now live, have struggled to cope with one of the largest refugee exoduses in recent history.

The UN estimates 13.1 million people will require some form of humanitarian help in Syria in 2018.

The warring parties have made the problems worse by refusing aid agencies access to many of those in need. Almost 3 million people live in besieged or hard-to-reach areas.

How is the country divided?

The government has regained control of Syria's biggest cities but large parts of the country are still held by rebel groups and the Kurdish-led SDF alliance.

The largest opposition stronghold is the north-western province of Idlib, home to more than 2.6 million people.

Despite being designated a "de-escalation zone", Idlib is the target of an offensive by the government, which says it is targeting jihadists linked to al-Qaeda.

The SDF meanwhile controls most territory east of the River Euphrates, including the city of Raqqa. Until 2017, it was the de facto capital of the "caliphate" proclaimed by IS, which now controls only a few pockets across Syria.

Will the war ever end?

It does not look like it will any time soon but everyone agrees a political solution is required.

The UN Security Council has called for the implementation of the 2012 Geneva Communique, which envisages a transitional governing body "formed on the basis of mutual consent."

But nine rounds of UN-mediated peace talks - known as the Geneva II process - since 2014 have shown little progress.

President Assad has appeared increasingly unwilling to negotiate with the opposition. The rebels still insist he must step down as part of any settlement.

Meanwhile, Western powers have accused Russia of undermining the peace talks by setting up a parallel political process.

The so-called Astana process saw Russia host a "Congress of National Dialogue" in January 2018. However, most opposition representatives refused to attend.

What’s in it for India?

India has a number of interests and values which underpin its position on Syria. Opposition to foreign intervention and support for state sovereignty (regardless of regime type) are long-held principles that by default make India’s position favorable to the Assad government.

These principles are underpinned by anti-colonialism, Third World solidarity, interest in preventing foreign intervention in Kashmir, and cultural values such as pluralism, non-violence (at the interstate level) and tolerance. India can justify not criticizing Russia’s involvement as this was at the invitation of the Assad regime.

Delhi also has major interests in stability in the Middle East given its increased dependency on oil and gas imports. A clean victory for the rebels in Syria will give a morale boost to certain other regional insurgents, potentially causing further instability. Delhi will recall having to, along with its consortium partners, abandon oil investments due to security concerns in 2013. Instability also threatens India’s 7 million migrant workers.

Geopolitically, India will see Syria as an opportunity to strengthen its position as a potential security partner for Middle Eastern states (as it competes with both China and Pakistan). This includes countries feeling threatened or isolated by the West, like Iran and Syria, as well as those who feel they have received inadequate Western backing, like the Gulf States.

India will see its position as already strengthened given that there are now clearly two opposing international poles regarding the conflict with itself at neither extreme. By maintaining an independent, middle-ground stance on Assad, Delhi can maintain more leverage with all sides as they seek to win her over to their position. India will also closely monitor China’s approach to the conflict, including Beijing’s relations with both the Iran-led or Saudi-led camps.

Reducing the spread of terrorism is a driver for India’s position on Syria. Delhi is likely more suspicious than the West with regard many Syrian rebel groups. There has also been an increased presence of Indian jihadists in the conflict. India also fears the influence of extremists in Afghanistan, Pakistan and Kashmir.

  Source: The Hindhu

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INDIA-IRAN DEAL:

WHY IN NEWS?

Iran warns of 'nuclear crisis' if JCPOA deal is scrapped

Iran nuclear deal:

The 2015 nuclear deal struck between Iran and six world powers - the US, UK, Russia, France, China, and Germany - was the signature foreign policy achievement of Barack Obama's presidency.

The initial framework lifted crippling economic sanctions on Iran in return for limitations to the country's controversial nuclear energy programme, which international powers feared Iran would use to create a nuclear weapon.

But Mr Obama's close association with the deal put it in the crosshairs of his successor, Donald Trump, who has announced that he will not recertify it.

President Trump claimed that the deal was too lenient and that Iran had broken parts of the agreement, including heavy-water limits and access to international inspectors.

He called for new sanctions on Iran, directed against its Revolutionary Guard police force, and referred the deal to Congress for changes to the US terms.

In response, the EU's foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said there had been "no violations" by Iran and insisted that the deal could not be renegotiated, even by the US.

Here are some of the key components of the original framework.

Uranium enrichment:

Iran's uranium stockpile will be reduced by 98% to 300kg for 15 years

There are two uranium enrichment facilities in Iran - Natanz and Fordo - where uranium hexafluoride gas is fed into centrifuges to separate out the most fissile isotope U-235. Low-enriched uranium, which has a 3%-4% concentration of U-235, can be used to produce fuel for nuclear power plants. But it can also be enriched to the 90% needed to produce nuclear weapons.

In July 2015, Iran had almost 20,000 centrifuges. Under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), it will be limited to installing no more than 5,060 of the oldest and least efficient centrifuges at Natanz for 10 years.

Iran's uranium stockpile is set to be reduced by 98% to 300kg (660lbs) for 15 years. It must also keep its level of enrichment at 3.67%.

By January 2016, Iran had drastically reduced the number of centrifuges installed at Natanz and Fordo, and shipped tonnes of low-enriched uranium to Russia.

In addition, research and development will take place only at Natanz and be limited for eight years. No enrichment will be permitted at Fordo for 15 years, and the underground facility will be converted into a nuclear, physics and technology centre. The 1,044 centrifuges at the site will produce radioisotopes for use in medicine, agriculture, industry and science.

Plutonium pathway

Iran is redesigning the Arak reactor so it cannot produce any weapons-grade plutonium

Iran had been building a heavy-water nuclear facility near the town of Arak. Spent fuel from a heavy-water reactor contains plutonium suitable for a nuclear bomb.

World powers had originally wanted Arak dismantled because of the proliferation risk. Under an interim nuclear deal agreed in November 2013, Iran agreed not to commission or fuel the reactor.

Instead, it agreed to redesign the reactor so it cannot produce any weapons-grade plutonium. All spent fuel will be sent out of the country as long as the modified reactor exists.

Most of the 20 tonnes of heavy water the Arak facility was expected to produce will be shipped to the US via a third country, according to Iranian officials. About 6 tonnes will be retained to make medical isotopes.

The JCPOA says Iran will not be permitted to build additional heavy-water reactors or accumulate any excess heavy water for 15 years.

Covert activity

At the time of the agreement, the White House expressed confidence that the JCPOA would prevent Iran from building a nuclear programme in secret. Iran, it said, had committed to "extraordinary and robust monitoring, verification, and inspection".

Inspectors from the IAEA, the global nuclear watchdog, continuously monitor Iran's declared nuclear sites and also verify that no fissile material is moved covertly to a secret location to build a bomb.

Iran also agreed to implement the Additional Protocol to their IAEA Safeguards Agreement, which allows inspectors to access any site anywhere in the country they deem suspicious.

For the 15 years of the agreement, Iran will have 24 days to comply with any IAEA access request. If it refuses, an eight-member Joint Commission - including Iran - will rule on the issue. It can decide on punitive steps, including the reimposition of sanctions. A majority vote by the commission suffices.

'Break-out time'

UN ban on the import of ballistic missile technology will remain in place for up to eight years

Before July 2015, Iran had a large stockpile of enriched uranium and nearly 20,000 centrifuges, enough to create eight to 10 bombs, according to the White House. US experts estimated then that if Iran had decided to rush to make a bomb, it would take two to three months until it had enough 90%-enriched uranium to build a nuclear weapon - the so-called "break-out time".

The White House said the JCPOA would remove the key elements Iran would need to create a bomb and increase its break-out time to one year or more.

Iran also agreed not to engage in activities, including research and development, which could contribute to the development of a nuclear bomb.

In December 2015, the IAEA's board of governors voted to end its decade-long investigation into the possible military dimensions of Iran's nuclear programme.

The agency's director-general, Yukiya Amano, said the report concluded that until 2003 Iran had conducted "a co-ordinated effort" on "a range of activities relevant to the development of a nuclear explosive device". Iran continued with some activities until 2009, but after that there were "no credible indications" of weapons development, he added.

Lifting sanctions

Image copyrightAFPImage captionIran estimated that the fall in oil exports was costing it between $4bn and $8bn each month

Sanctions previously imposed by the UN, US and EU in an attempt to force Iran to halt uranium enrichment crippled its economy, costing the country more than $160bn (£110bn) in oil revenue from 2012 to 2016 alone. According to the deal, Iran stood to gain access to more than $100bn in assets frozen overseas, and was able to resume selling oil on international markets and using the global financial system for trade.

Should Iran violate any aspect of the deal, the UN sanctions will automatically "snap back" into place for 10 years, with the possibility of a five-year extension.

If the Joint Commission cannot resolve a dispute, it will be referred to the UN Security Council.

Iran also agreed to the continuation of the UN arms embargo on the country for up to five years, although it could end earlier if the IAEA is satisfied that its nuclear programme is entirely peaceful. A UN ban on the import of ballistic missile technology will also remain in place for up to eight years.

Where does India stand on the deal?

As was evident from the prompt official statement welcoming the deal, this is something that India has been wanting for a long time. Many of India’s regional aspirations were often found stuck because of the sanctions on Iran. With Pakistan unrelenting in its opposition on regional issues, especially Afghanistan, India found it difficult to deliver and execute its goodwill in Afghanistan. The only alternative has been Iran. And if Iran were to become part of the mainstream, things become easier for India. Also, India’s ‘Connect Central Asia’ initiative launched in 2012 could get the desired connectivity options and fillip to boost trade and cooperation with CAR through Iran.

Energy imports (crude oil and natural gas) are a huge burden on the Indian economy. Sanctions on Iran curtailed imports of energy from that country. This is likely to be reversed when sanctions are lifted. India has signed a contract to develop the Chahbahar port in Iran. The lifting of sanctions on Iran will help in expediting work on this project as well as help in developing the rail-road link from Chahbahar to Afghanistan, a key requirement to ship out iron ore from the Hajigak mines in Afghanistan. Also, the Chahbahar port could add value to India’s strategic needs in the Persian Gulf region.

The TAPI pipeline, which promises to deliver Turkmen gas to India, is potentially stuck across two obstacles, Afghanistan and Pakistan. While Afghanistan can neither fund nor guarantee safe transit due to its fragile internal situation, Pakistan is still unwilling to facilitate this pipeline to India citing technical and security issues. In such a situation, natural gas from Turkmenistan could come directly to Chahbahar port and thereafter taken either through an under-sea pipeline or by containers to India.

The framework agreement on the Iran nuclear issue has raised hopes for a concrete deal soon. Although there might be some apprehensions in the region, especially in Saudi Arabia and Israel, the P5+1 guarantees and IAEA safeguards could dispel most of these fears in the coming months. India is silently jubilant as the prospective deal opens many a closed door in the region. The next few months would be critical because “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed”, at least in the case of the Iran nuclear issue.

Source: BBC

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WHETHER IMPOSITION OF TARRIF BY USA IS A VIOLATION OF WTO NORMS:

Why in news?

Donald trump administration recently imposed 10% tarrif on steel and 15% on aluminium imports from countries except Canada and mexico because of negotiation going on between these two countries in amending NAFTA(North American Free Trade Agreement) which current administration in USA considers this as an unfair to them resulting in billions of dollars “trade deficit”. Some countries like China and south korea had already taken this issue with WTO as they say that the action taken by USA is not in complient to WTO norms.

WHETHER THE ACTION BY USA IS COMPLIENT WITH WTO NORMS:

USA’S RESPONSE:

USA said that the imported metal is threatening national security by degrading domestic industrial base.

What WTO norms say:

There is in fact basis for national security concerns over imposing barriers if there is possible legitimate reasons that may be during the time of war or an emergency in international relations.

What economists view on trump’s action and future of WTO:

Economists warn that Trump’s appeal to national security could undermine the framework of trade rules painstakingly constructed after World War II. Other countries could challenge Trump’s tariffs at the WTO, but that body’s rules include exemptions for national security measures, a loophole that has rarely been exploited. Legal experts say it is unlikely that the Trump administration would lose such a case.

WHAT IS TRUMP LOSE THE CASE:

If Trump were to lose, he could ignore the ruling, undermining the WTO, or he could withdraw the United States from the institution altogether, which he has previously threatened to do.

WHAT IF TRUMP WINS THE CASE:

On the other hand, if he were to win, it could open the door to other countries using the national security exemption, potentially escalating protectionism.

This, in turn, could relieve pressure on China, whose own subsidies and other trade distortions have been a major target at the WTO dispute forum. If national security were to become an accepted rationale for protectionism, Beijing could increase its own discriminatory practices and further block U.S. imports and investment. U.S. allies have made this case, arguing instead for a united front against Chinese overproduction.

WHAT IS INDIAS POSITION:

* Though India had been unaffected by USA’s action because India’s steel and aluminium exports to USA were minimal with just 2%.

* India was baffled by Trumps action because India was neither threat to USA nor large exporter of those metals but still put on the list of countries where the tarrif ‘s were imposed.

* India is now adopting “wait and watch” approach.

* India is now looking to take the case to WTO if norms are faulted by USA. This is not the first time India’s dragging the case to WTO earlier also india had dragged the USA in Solar panel case where USA accused India of imposing heavy tarrif on Solar panels but at the same time USA was doing the same in their country.

  Source: The Hindhu

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15^TH Finance commission(FC)

As per Article 280 of the Constitution, the commission is required to make recommendations on the distribution of the net proceeds of taxes between the Centre and the states.

Every five years President of India constitutes Finance commission.

Recently president of india constitutes 15^TH FINANCE COMMISION under the chairmanship of N.K.SINGH.

The new Finance Commission will cover five-year period commencing April 1, 2020.

The 14th Finance Commission was set up on January 2, 2013. Its recommendations cover the period from April 1, 2015 to March 31, 2020.

WHETHER 15^TH FINANCE COMMISSION TOR(Terms of reference) is unfavourable to Southern states or not:

What TOR tells about:

The ToR mandates the Commission to use 2011 population for tax sharing and devolution of resources instead of 1971 population as was the practice in the past. This step had been taken not to discourage the states which had taken progressive steps in containing the population.

In 2001, parliament had freezed 1971 as a base year for calculating seats as well as allocation funds till 2024.

Why NOT 2011 INSTEAD OF 1971:

If Finance commission used 2011 data instead of 1971 the states(except special category states) which have taken progressive steps in containing population will get lower allocation of funds during distribution of central taxes.

These states feel that if this decision is not opposed now then Center may suggest Election commission to use 2011 data instead 1971 while calculating the parliamentary seats allotted to them. If they do this share of member of parliament (MP)from the southern states will decrease meanwhile share of northern states will increase. This will make the southern states vulnerable they feel that their voices may not be heared in parliament due to low number of parliamentarians.

It is a North vs South DEBATE?

Actually not because not only Southern states but other states like Punjab, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal pradesh had also raised objections to the TOR. We may call this is issue as an developed vs developing states.

Is southern states really taken steps to reduce population:

Data below shows yes.

Total Fertility Rate – the average number of children that will be born to a woman during her lifetime.

DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION(DT):

* The theory propounded by American demographer warren Thomson

* DT is the transition from high birth and death rates as a country or region develops from pre-industrial to an industrialised economic system.

* Most developed countries have completed the DT and have low birth rates while most developing countries are in the process of this transition.

* Worlds average TFR is 2.33

* Chinas TFR is 1.57

* The country with TFR below the Transimission levels will have higher old age population. So it is good to maintain at replacement levels.

Indias current population replacement rate is 2.3 and is expected its democratic transition in 2020.

TWO TYPES OF DEVOLUTION OF FUNDS:

1)Horizondal devolution – devolution of funds between the states.

2)vertical devolution – devolution of funds between center and states.

EVEN 14^TH FINANCE COMMISION HAD ALSO USED 2011 CENSUS DATA WHY NO OBJECTIONS RAISED BEFORE WHY ONLY NOW?

14^TH FINANCE COMMISSION gave only 10% weightage to 2011 census and it gave remaining 90% weightage to 1971 census meanwhile 15^thFC had decided to use only 2011 census that creates the problem.

What is FC reply to the questions raised by the states ?

FC confirmed that they will use the 2011 data but at the same time they also mentioned that they will incentivise the states that had taken steps to contain the population but the objecting staes are not in ready to accept the FC reply.

Source: pib,the hindhu?

9^thApril 2015 Daily Current Affairs

ELECTORAL BONDS:

Why in news?

EC to take a call on Electoral bonds soon.

Introduction:

* Funding of political parties has always been on suspicion or controversy. The government has come out with Electoral Bonds for funding of political parties. The government unveiled the fine print of the electoral bonds scheme.

* As per the notification, the electoral bonds will be a bearer instrument in the manner of a promissory note whereby a citizen, or a registered body, in India is eligible to purchase the bond from notified branches of the State Bank of Indi (SBI) for 10 days each in months of January, April, July and October. It will be available in multiples of Rs1,000, Rs10,000, Rs1 lakh, Rs10 lakh and Rs1 crore.

Significance

* The significant aspect of this scheme is that the bonds will remain valid for 15 days and shall not carry the donor’s name, although the payee will have to fulfil KYC (know your customer) protocols at the bank.

* To benefit from the electoral bonds scheme, the political parties must have been registered with the Election Commission and should have secured not less than 1 per cent of the votes polled in the most recent General Election to the Lok Sabha or a State legislative assembly. This can be seen as a measure for pushing out the non serious candidates.

* Also, the bonds can be encashed by an eligible political party only through a designated bank account with an authorised bank. Every political party has to submit details of one designated account to the Election Commission and the bonds can be encashed only in that account.

Issues / Concerns

* The opposition have pointed that the bonds will help any party that is in power because the government can know who donated what money and to whom.

* Any potential donor, corporate houses or industrialists do not have to worry about donating to the party in power, but will have to worry about donating to party in opposition. Any party in power wants to know the donors for opposition and they may face some trouble.

* Our democratic values is not as strong as it should have been 7 decades after Independence and this is where we need to strengthen the democratic institutions. In US we see people openly accepting their support for Democratic and Republican parties whereas in India we even go wrong in Exit polls because people feel that if they openly accept to which party they voted, then action may be taken against them by the political parties.

Scrutinising the expenditure of political parties

* There is nothing much said about how the political parties spend. There is a huge gap between the ceiling and the money actually spent. The ceiling for a larger lok sabha constituency is 40 lakhs where as there are constituencies which spend around 40 crores and there are hardly any constituency which spends 40 lakhs. So there has to be realistic picture. There are many reports like Dinesh Goswami committee and Law Commission reports on political funding, but there isn’t any political will.

Conclusion:

The first three parliamentary elections were held free and fair without any questions being raised, whereas from 4^th elections doubts were raised about booth capturing, use of muscle and money power increasing in the election system. Now the magnitude and scale is humongous. These problems have to be addressed. There are number of reports on it, but very little action has been taken. The electoral bonds are a move taken by the government which is a small step in the right direction.

It is good step in so far as moving away from dubious cash given to political parties to moving to electoral bonds. The returns will have to be filed by the political parties through these bonds and therefore it is meant to be transparent, accountable and a small step towards electoral reforms.

  Source: the hindhu,live mint

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CPEC(CHINA PAKISTHAN ECONOMIC CORRIDOR):

Why in news?

CPEC to be extended to Afghanisthan says a report from China.

what is CPEC?

1. A mutibillion-dollar investment

The CPEC is a collection of infrastrucre and energy projects whose total worth is around $46 billion.

2.An ambitious project

The project was launched in 2015. If completed, the 3,000-km network of roads, railways and pipelines will link western China to Southern Pakistan.

3.Part of a larger Chinese strategy

The CPEC is a part of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Maritime Silk Road projects, two development plans that seek to deepen Mainland China's economic cooperation with a number of Asian and European countries.

4.CPEC in three geo-politically significant regions

The corridor will pass through Balochistan province - where a separatist movement has been under way for decades - as well as through Gilgit-Baltistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

5.Advantages for Pakistan

Pakistan's motivation for investing in the project is two-fold: it hopes the CPEC will stimulate economic development and increase energy production. In fact, $35 billion will be invested in coal and LNG-based thermal energy projects in Pakistan, the Economic Times reported.

6.Advantages for China

First, China expects to be able to transport its energy supplies from the Persian Gulf faster. Second, the corridor could lead to economic development in Western China, a land-locked region. And finally, China, by "establishing its physical footprint" in Gilgit-Baltistan, also hopes to check the movement of Uighur separatist militants

7.Gwadar port

The Gwadar deep-water port in Balochistan province is an important cog in the CPEC apparatus. China Overseas Ports Holding Company Ltd, the Chinese firm that in 2013 took over port operations, expects Gwadar port to be fully operational before the end of the year, and to process a million tons of cargo in 2017. Most of the cargo will be construction materials for the CPEC. It is worth noting that in the conflict-torn region where the port is situated, there has been a decades-long struggle for independence from Pakistan, which is accused of siphoning the region's resources into its coffers to the detriment of its residents.

8.Security for Chinese nationals

More than 17,000 Pakistani security personnel have been tasked with providing protection for Chinese nationals in Pakistan. It was reported in April than Pakistan was set to deploy an additional 4,000 personnel to provide security for Chinese nationals working on the CPEC - amongst other projects - in Punjab province.

9. Increasing anger against China, Pakistan

In August, it was reported that residents of Gilgit-Baltistan and PoK were increasingly angry with Pakistan's and China's exploiting their natural resources without sharing the benefits of development with them. In Gilgit-Baltistan, the influx of Chinese workers have left many locals unemployed, and it is also feared that the CPEC will create an ecological imbalance in the region. In addition, the Gilgit-Baltistan government and the Pakistani Arrmy are forcibly acquiring locals' ancestral lands for the CPEC, Senge H Sering, director, Gilgit-Baltistan National Congress.

INDIA’S VIEW ON CPEC:

India has objected to CPEC which passes through Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), as violation of its sovereignty.POK currently is with Pakisthan which India claims it as a part of Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir.

CHINA’S REPLY TO INDIA’S CONCERN:

* Chinese government have proposed to change the name of CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor).

* Create an alternative corridor through Jammu and Kashmir, Nathu La pass or Nepal to deal with India’s concerns.

Conclusion:

Though CPEC project will help to improve the infrastructure in Pakisthan where the country is facing many insurgencies and terrorist activities India’s fear lies in a nefarious design of China where the country is making huge investment with high rate of interest which will further burden the already fragile economy of pakisthan and may make pakisthan colony of China in the future because in future if pakisthan can’t able to repay the loan from the infrastructure it has created as part of the CPEC and then China will request pakisthan to lease some lands it. After that, Chinese will use those lands for their economic and military activities which will definitely be a greater concern for India.Recently,former president of Maldives Mohammed nasheed criticised the Chinese activities in Maldives as “land grab ”.Srilanka is another example where India’s view is vindicated because in Srilanka during Rajapaksha’s regime several infrastructural projects had been built with Chinese loan but none of the projects were economically viable because of that Srilanka owes 80% of its debt to china. Ex: hambantota port built under Chinese loan were now called as “worlds emptiest airport”. So, international communities should take a note on China’s nefarious design and put pressure on china to built the projects which are economically viable.

Source: the hindhu,Indian express

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PRIVITISATION:

Why in news?

Not for privatising govt. banks: Muhammad Yunus(Noble laureate).

BACKGROUND:

Since the PNB scam call for “Privitisation” increased. Former NITI AAYOG chairman Arvind panagariya,Chief economic advisor(CEA) Arvind subramaniam and many others had raised their support to privitisation and others like IBBI Chairman Vinod rai raised ojection to privitisation.

ABOUT PRIVITISATION:

* The transfer of ownership, property or business from the government to the private sector is termed privatization.

* The government ceases to be the owner of the entity or business.

* Privatization is considered to bring more efficiency and objectivity to the company, something that a government company is not concerned about. India went for privatization in the historic reforms budget of 1991, also known as 'New Economic Policy or LPG policy'(Liberalization Privatization Globalization).

FOR PRIVITISATION:

* Industory body FICCI informed that the government should consider privatising public sector banks (PSBs) as over Rs 2.6 lakh crore capital infusion in the past eleven years has had limited impact in improving their health, and the move would also reduce drain on the exchequer(government of india) and the money saved could be used for developmental schemes and programmes of the government.

* Disbursing loans by PSB to friendly industrial houses/companies has always been a practice that has been followed by all political parties in power. Public sector banks have been the channels through which governments have opted to grant loans to industrial houses/companies close to them. Subsequently, the inability to pay the amount by some of these players has led to mounting of bad loans in the books of public sector banks.

AGAINST PRIVITISATION:

* According to Bankers union it was the auditors and RBI who were responsible for recent PNB scam not only fault of the PSB. They also sighted the USA were after several private banks defaulted after 2008 financial crises the US government had to bail out all the blue chip private banks(top private banks) with taxpayer money

* Recently,IBBI chairman Vinod rai pointed out that it was the PSB which played a major role in development of infrastructure in our country while no of private banks focused more on retail sector.

* Emerging cases like fraud in giving loans by ICCI bank to NUPOWER Renewable pvt ltd which raised the question against privitisation.

* The Jan Dhan scheme, for instance, which gave access to banking services for millions, was a public sector show all the way — the private sector put in only a token presence because most of the accounts created were not profitable.

* Not all loans given by Private sector banks are good they had also NPA’S which NPA’s are not related to PSB alone.

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PRIVITISATION OF “AIR INDIA”:

Why in news?

Several countries both Indian and foreign airlines were interested in buying an ailing carrier.

ABOUT AIR INDIA:

The airline was founded by J. R. D. Tata as Tata Airlines in 1932.After World War II, it became a public limited company and was renamed as Air India.

HISTORY OF AIR INDIA’S PRIVITISATION:

* Today the concept of a national carrier in Air India’s context is not as important as it was in the past . Being the national carrier was important in the days when Air India was the only one airline operating in the domestic and international skies. Even worldwide this was the case some 40-50 years ago.

* Since then things have changed in many countries, including in India. India allowed private airlines to start flying scheduled services in the domestic skies in 1997. In 2004, the domestic airlines were allowed limited international flights — to countries in the South Asian region.

* The following year the rule was again amended and domestic Indian carriers were allowed to fly anywhere in the world except for the Gulf region where Air India and Indian Airlines were given a monopoly till 2010.

* Even then the issue of a national carrier was important because Air India had the first right of refusal on flying abroad. This meant that other airlines were allowed to operate flights from India to international destinations only if Air India was not in a position to do so.

* But all this changed and so did the importance that Air India enjoyed as India’s national carrier. In fact, as far back as 2004, the Naresh Chandra Committee report on Civil Aviation had said that the discussion on privatisation of Air India and Indian Airlines often centred on the need for having a government-owned national carrier.

PRIVITISATION:

PROS:

* Every year bailing out the AIR INDIA through annual budget costs huge amount to exchequer(central government). Despite all this health of AIRINDIA had not improved but only debt of our national carrier had increased year on year which now stands at 50,000 crore ($8 billion). This money otherwise should have went to the development of people of the country.

* BRITISH AIRWAYS and Australias Quantas were privitised long ago now running on a fortune.

CONS:

* The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism and Culture concluded that the government should review its decision to privatise or disinvest Air India and explore the possibility of "an alternative to disinvestment of our national carrier which is our national pride"

* Alitalia former national carrier of Italy because of heavy debt sold the carrier to private firm with the expectation that carrier will be turned fortune but after few years that private company applied for bankruptcy and the Italian government gave $650 million to bail out the carrier.

NOTE:

Recently, cabinet have approved 49% FDI in AIR INDIA.

CONCLUSION:

From the above it is clear that private or public whoever works for the betterment of the company ends in a fortune. So government should concentrate on how to improve the airlines revenues instead of privitisation.

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LTCG (Long trem capital gains tax):

Why is LTCG tax in the news?

It is in the news as Finance Minister Arun Jaitley re-introduced LTCG tax on equity shares. Investors have to pay 10% LTCG tax on gains exceeding one lakh on the sale of shares or equity mutual funds held for more than one year. Previously, short-term capital gains (STCG) tax of 15% was levied.

The Centre said if the gains exceeded one lakh in a year, then 10% LTCG tax had to be paid without the benefit of indexation (adjusting the profit against inflation to compute the real taxable gains).

What is LTCG?

LTCG or long-term capital gains refer to the gains made on any class of asset held for a particular period of time. In case of equity shares, it refers to the gains made on stocks held for more than one year. In other words, if the shares are bought and held for more than a year before selling, then the gains, if any, on the said sale are referred to as long term capital gains or LTCG.

Was the tax levied on stock market trades earlier?

Such a tax existed until October 2004 when it was replaced by the securities transaction tax (STT) which was levied on all trades made on the stock exchanges.

STT is charged at 0.1% of the trade value in cash market trades. In the derivatives segment, 0.05% STT is charged on the options premium while it is pegged at 0.01% on futures. Incidentally, there was always a section of market participants that favoured LTCG tax over STT.

The issue of tax evasion through stock exchanges by paying a small STT component instead of LTCG had been raised regularly. Further, a study in 2016 stated that between 2005-06 and 2011-12, the Centre lost about ?3.5 lakh crore by replacing LTCG tax with STT.

How will LTCG tax be computed?

Typically, when such a levy is introduced, it is structured in a manner so that prior investments get some kind of relief. In technical parlance, it is called the grandfathering benefit.

The government, while reintroducing the LTCG tax, said all gains made prior to January 31 would be grandfathered.

Here is how it works: for example, assume an entity bought shares in January 2017 at 100, which touched a high of 200 on January 31, 2018. Now, if he or she sells the shares at 300 in, say, May 2018, then his taxable gains would be 100. (300-200).

Will all investors be subject to LTCG tax?

All investors who trade on stock exchanges would be required to pay LTCG tax. Incidentally, the Centre has brought in LTCG tax while retaining STT as well. So, investors will have to pay both the taxes. However, foreign portfolio investors (FPIs), who invest in India from places like Mauritius and Singapore, would not be subject to LTCG tax, courtesy tax avoidance treaties.

This benefit, however, would be available only till the time the treaty benefit exists as the Centre is reworking all such so-called double tax avoidance agreements (DTAA).

For instance, the Singapore and Mauritius treaties also have a grandfathering clause plus a tax of only 5% on the computed gains. This, in effect, makes it more attractive for foreign investors to trade through the Mauritius or Singapore route.

How did the stock markets react to the introduction of the tax?

The introduction of LTCG tax can only increase the cost of trading stocks at a time when various market participants have been highlighting the ‘export of capital’ to other countries due to lower transaction costs in those nations. Incidentally, there are already reports that the government might look at the possibility of at least allowing the benefit of indexation while computing LTCG that would be a partial relief to investors.

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CIBIL:

WHAT IS CIBIL?

* Credit Information Bureau (India) Limited, commonly known as CIBIL, is India’s first Credit Information Company or Credit Bureau.

* It maintains records of all credit-related activity of individuals and companies including loans and credit cards . The records are submitted to CIBIL by registered member banks and other financial institutions on a periodic (usually monthly) basis. Based on this data, CIBIL issues a Credit Information Report or CIR (commonly referred to as a credit report) and a credit score.

* CIBIL was founded in 2000 in order to bring greater efficiency and transparency in the credit space. TransUnion International (a global credit bureau) and Dun and Bradstreet (a global provider of credit information) are technical partners of CIBIL in India.

CONCLUSION:

CIBIL was under scanner when a PNB scam broke out in public. Experts have criticized that if CIBIL were aware of the credentials the scam had been averted.

8^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

PAKISTHAN IN BOAO FORUM:

Why in news:

Pakisthan PM decided to highlight positives of CPEC in the forum.

News in detail:

$50 billion CPEC plans to develop the infrastructural projects in Pakisthan.

For more details refer to 3^rd APRIL 2018 daily currrent affairs

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ICHR(Indian council of Historical Research):

Why in news?

ICHR not to study nature of ‘Ram Setu’ structures.

This was announced after the council opposed the move.

Sethu samudhram project:

The bridge has been at the centre of a controversy, especially since the Sethusamudram shipping canal project was mooted by the UPA government. The project triggered widespread protests, with a section of people holding that it would destroy the Ram Setu.

RAM SETHU:

Indian mythology states that the Ram Setu, between what is now India and Sri Lanka, was built by an army of monkeys for Lord Rama and his warriors to cross over to Lanka.

WHY OPPOSITION:

Historians said that it was the duty of Archaelogical survey of India(ASI) only the Council can do is it can recommend to ASI.

ABOUT ICHR:

1. It is an autonomous body.

2. It comes under Ministry of Human resource and development(MHRD).

3. The body, over many years, has provided financial assistance to the historians and direction to the research scholars in their multifarious topics of historical research through established historians and scholars of the country.

4. The source of the funds at the disposal of the ICHR is grants-in-aid received from the Department of Higher Education in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, grants-in-aid from various Indian states, private donations from individuals and other countries, and the proceeds of revenues from the sale of publications of the ICHR.

ABOUT ASI:

1. It comes under Ministry of Culture.

2. It is the premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the cultural heritage of the nation.

3. Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of national importance is the prime concern of the ASI.

4. Besides it regulate all archaeological activities in the country as per the provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958.

5. It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972.

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NASA’s Parker Solar Probe:

NASA has decided to launch the spacecraft by July 31.

About parker:

* Humanity’s first mission to the Sun launched through DELTA IV Heavy launch vehicle from NASA’S Kennedy space center.

* After launch, it will orbit directly through the solar atmosphere — the corona — closer to the surface than any human-made object has ever gone.

* the mission will reveal fundamental science behind what drives the solar wind, the constant outpouring of material from the Sun that shapes planetary atmospheres and affects space weather near Earth.

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ROCK NITROGEN:

BACKGROUND:

Conventional wisdom has always been that nitrogen, a gas essential to plant life on earth, was only available from the atmosphere. However, it emerges that nearly a quarter of it comes from the earth’s bedrock.

ABOUT ROCK NITROGEN:

* 26% OF Nitrgen in natural ecosystems is sourced from rocks and is referred to as ‘rock nitrogen’.

* Nitrogen-weathering is a globally significant source of nutrition to soils and ecosystems worldwide and may be playing a role in allowing forests and grasslands to sequester more fossil fuel CO2 emissions than previously thought. But not just any rock can leach nitrogen.

* Rock nitrogen availability is determined by weathering, which can be physical (such as through tectonic movement), or chemical (such as when minerals react with rainwater).

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Anti-dumping duty and uses of phosphorous pentoxide:

Why in news?

India slaps anti-dumping duty on import of phosphorus pentoxide from China.

1. About anti-dumping duty:

What is an 'Anti-Dumping Duty?

1. An anti-dumping duty is a protectionist tariff that a domestic government imposes on foreign imports that it believes are priced below fair market value.

2. ‘Dumping’is a process where a company exports a product at a price lower than the price it normally charges on its own home market.

3. To protect local businesses and markets, many countries impose stiff duties on products they believe are being dumped in their national market.

2. Uses of phosphorous pentoxide:

* Dehydrating Agent

Phosphorus Pentoxide is used as a strong drying and dehydrating agent. Many reactions that require the removal of a water molecule can utilize P2O5 such as the dehydration of amides to nitriles.

* Glass

It is used to manufacture optical glass and heat-insulating glass.

* Organic Synthesis

Pharmaceuticals and pesticides are manufactured using P2O5.

7^th April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

PM Ujwala Yojana :

Why in news?

Inauguration of PM Ujwala Yojana In Delhi

What is PM ujwala yojana?

·Under this scheme, 5 Cr LPG connections will be provided to BPL families with a support of Rs.1600 per connection in the next 3 years.

·Ensuring women’s empowerment, especially in rural India, the connections will be issued in the name of women of the households.

·Rs. 8000 Cr. has been allocated towards the implementation of the scheme.

·Identification of the BPL families will be done through Socio Economic Caste Census Data.

  Source: Ministry of petroleum and natural gas

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OXYTOXIN:

Why in news?

Govt. bans imports of hormone oxytocin

What is Oxytoxin?

* The Union government on Friday banned imports of the hormone oxytocin to stop its misuse in the livestock industry, where activists say it causes hormonal imbalances and shortens the lives of milch animals.

* Often called the ‘love hormone’, oxytocin is released naturally in human bonding activities such as sex, childbirth and breastfeeding.

* The government also asked customs officials to step up vigilance against those likely to try and smuggle oxytocin into India, the Central Board of Excise and Customs said in a notice on its website.

* The government has decided to rely on domestic production to satisfy requirements of the hormone.

* The drug’s abuse in animals shortens their lives and makes them barren sooner.

* India halted retail sales of the prescription-only drug in 2014, but regulators have struggled to curb illegal sales, and the volume of imports is unclear.

* The ban follows an order by the drugs regulator last year for officials to clamp down on factories that produce the hormone in bulk despite not meeting manufacturing standards.

* It also recommended that sale be limited to registered government hospitals and clinics, a bar code system used on all forms of the drug to ensure tracking and prevent abuse.

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SPECIAL CATEGORY STATUS (SCS):

A growing clamour for Special Category Status in Andhra Pradesh has led to State-wide protests, and heated debates in Parliament. Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, under immense pressure, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday seeking a resolution of this issue by the end of the Parliament session on August 12.

What is SCS?

The Constitution does not include any provision for categorisation of any State in India as a Special Category Status (SCS) State. But, recognising that some regions in the country were historically disadvantaged in contrast to others, Central plan assistance to SCS States has been granted in the past by the erstwhile Planning Commission body, National Development Council (NDC).

The NDC granted this status based on a number of features of the States which included: hilly and difficult terrain, low population density or the presence of sizeable tribal population, strategic location along international borders, economic and infrastructural backwardness and non-viable nature of State finances.

What kind of assistance do SCS States receive?

The SCS States used to receive block grants based on the Gadgil-Mukherjee formula, which effectively allowed for nearly 30 per cent of the Total Central Assistance to be transferred to SCS States as late as 2009-10.

Following the constitution of the NITI Aayog (after the dissolution of the Planning Commission) and the recommendations of the Fourteenth Finance Commission (FFC), Central plan assistance to SCS States has been subsumed in an increased devolution of the divisible pool to all States (from 32% in the 13th FC recommendations to 42%) and do not any longer appear in plan expenditure.

The FFC also recommended variables such as “forest cover” to be included in devolution, with a weightage of 7.5 in the criteria and which could benefit north-eastern States that were previously given SCS assistance. Besides, assistance to Centrally Sponsored Schemes for SCS States was given with 90% Central share and 10% State share.

What other States are seeking SCS status?

Apart from Andhra Pradesh which is in the news lately, Bihar and Odisha had recently demanded SCS status but they have not been granted the same as they did not meet the criteria.

What is the basis of A.P.’s claim for SCS status?

Following the bifurcation of A.P., Andhra lost a large volume of its revenue due to Hyderabad remaining the capital of Telangana. In a debate in the Rajya Sabha on the A.P. Reorganisation Act on February 20, 2014, then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had said that SCS would be “extended to the successor State of Andhra Pradesh ... for a period of five years.” This oral submission by the then PM has been the basis for A.P.’s claim to the status.

Source: the hindhu

6^th April 2018 Daily Current Affaris

TRIFED (TRIBAL CO-OPERATIVE MARKETING DEVELOPMENT FEDERATION OF INDIA LIMITED)

What is TRIFED?

TRIFED, a PSU under Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India has been working with the main objective of promoting tribal art and craft for the benefit of tribal artisans of the country, under the scheme “Institutional Support for Development & Marketing of tribal products/produce” of the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India.

In line with the objective TRIFED has planned to scale up Marketing of Tribal Products through increase of its Retail Outlets ‘Tribes India’ throughout India and other retail marketing activities.

TRIBES OF INDIA:

* Tribals are known to be the autochthonous people of the land. Tribals are often referred to ‘adivasi’, ‘vanvasi’, ‘pahari’, ‘adimjati’, ‘anusuchit janjati’, etc.

* India has the second largest tribal population in the world, the first being Africa and tribal Communities are the integral segment of Indian society.

* India, with a variety of ecosystems, presents a varied tribal population throughout its length and breadth depicting a complex cultural mosaic.

* Nearly all the tribal people of India have been in almost continuous contact with their neighbours, who live by farming and a large number of specialized manual industries .

* The areas inhabited by the tribal constitute a significant part of the under developed areas of the country

* The tribal people have rich traditions, cultures and heritage with unique life styles and customs. Despite some regional variation, the tribes share many common traits, including living in relative geographical isolation, and being relatively more homogeneous and more self-contained than the non-tribalsocialgroups.

India’s population includes nearly one hundred million tribal people.

* The two main regions of tribal settlement are the country’s northeastern states bordering China and Burma, and the highlands and plains of its central and southern regions. The latter is home to more than 80 per cent of the tribes, which differ from the northeastern tribes in ethnicity and in having experienced greater “intrusion of the Indian mainstream and of the pan-Indian model of the state, society, economy and culture”.

* There are also differences in the extent to which the tribes interact with non-tribal communities. While the northeastern tribes are usually isolated communities, the tribes in peninsular India may at times coexist with non-tribal people.

* The Scheduled Areas and Scheduled Tribes Commission appointed by the President of India on 28 April 1960 pursuant to Article 339 of the Constitution of India in its report of 14 October 1961 stated that “As these groups are presumed to form the oldest ethnological sector of the population, the term “Adivasi” (‘Adi’= original and ‘Vasi’= inhabitant) has become current among certain people. The International Labour Organization has classified such people as “indigenous”.

   Source: TRIFED

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VAN DHAN VIKAS KENDRA:

Why in news?

Ministry of Tribal Affairs to launch first ever “Van Dhan Vikas Kendra” at Bijapur, Chhattisgarh for value addition of Forest Produce

What is Van dhan vikas kendra:

The Ministry of Tribal affairs has approved establishment of the first multipurpose “Van Dhan Vikas Kendra” on pilot basis for establishment in Bijapur District of Chhattisgarh Statefor providing skill upgradation and capacity building training and setting up of primary processing and value addition facility. This first model Van Dhan Vikas Kendra is being implemented for training of 300 beneficiaries with a total outlay of Rs 43.38 lakhs for training, providing equipments & tools for primary level processing and infrastructure & building for housing the Kendra.

The Van Dhan Vikas Kendras will be an important milestone in economic development of tribals involved in collection of MFPs by helping them in optimum utilization of natural resources and provide sustainable MFP-based livelihood in MFP-rich districts.

SOURCE:Ministry of Tribal affairs

5^thApril 2018 Daily Current Affairs

SEX RATIO:

Why in news?

India’s sex ratio is sliding year on year which is known from the data given in Rajyashabha.

News in detail:

The average sex ratio in India declined from 906 female births per 1,000 male births in 2012-14 to 898 in 2014-16. The data, sourced from the Sample Registration System (SRS), was given in answer to a question raised in Parliament.

Compared to the previous survey, only five States registered a positive change in sex ratio.

How sex ratio is calculated:

In India, the Child Sex Ratio is defined as the number of females per thousand males in the age group 0–6 years in a human population. Thus it is equal to 1000 x the reciprocal of the sex ratio (ratio of males to females in a population) in the same age group, i.e. under age seven. An imbalance in this age group will extend to older age groups in future years. Currently, the ratio of males to females is generally significantly greater than 1, i.e. there are more boys than girls.

Source: PIB,the hindhu,ministry of women and child welfare

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VIRTUAL CURRENCY:

Why in news?

RBI asks banks to stop services to those dealing in virtual currencies

About Virtual currency:

Virtual currency, also known as virtual money, is a type of unregulated, digital money, which is issued and usually controlled by its developers (Bitcoin is an exception), and used and accepted among the members of a specific virtual community. The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), a bureau of the US Treasury, defined virtual currency in its guidance published in 2013. In 2014, the European Banking Authority defined virtual currency as "a digital representation of value that is neither issued by a central bank or a public authority, nor necessarily attached to a fiat currency, but is accepted by natural or legal persons as a means of payment and can be transferred, stored or traded electronically". By contrast, a digital currency that is issued by a central bank is defined as "central bank digital currency".

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VIRTUAL CURRENCY AND CRPTOCURRENCY:

Virtual currencies, by contrast, are intended to be light-hearted and fun: they, too, have been around far longer than Crypto-currencies like Bitcoin, and are used primarily for online entertainment in virtual worlds. “Virtual” can be defined as “not based in physical reality,” and virtual currencies are those which are not intended for use in “real life,” or expenditure on real assets. They are, in another word, toys.

A Crypto-currencies like BTC, Eth are new, but revolutionize mode of settlement without any clearing house, central banks and middle person or agents stand in between the settlement party like central banks and banks. Therefore, it’s no extra cost of intermediate party, fast, easy (once you understand how to operate the wallet regardless of hard wallet or soft wallet). Its straight dealing between 2 party, using Crypto-currencies as medium of settlement for their goods and services. Value of the Crypto-currencies is moved depend on supply and demand.

Conclusion:

In the light of 13,000 crore PNB scam theses kind of currencies are getting traction these days.

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ANTI-PROFITEERING AUTHORITY:

Why in news?

Govt. watchdog gets 3 more months to probe HUL in profiteering case.

What is anti-profiteering authority?

The Government has approved the constitution of a National Anti-Profiteering Authority (NAA) – the institutional mechanism under the GST law to check the unfair profit-making activities by the trading community. Union Cabinet chaired by the PM decided for the appointment of a Chairman and Technical Members of the Authority.

Functions of the Authority

The relevance of the National Anti-Profiteering Authority (NAA) is simply out of the launch of the GST. The Authority’s core function is to ensure that the benefits of the reduction in GST rates on goods or services made by the GST Council is passed on to the ultimate consumers by way of a reduction in prices by traders.

Decision about the formation the NAA comes in the background of rate reduction of large number of items by the GST Council in its 22^nd meeting at Guwahati. At the meeting, the Council reduced rates of more than 200 items including goods and services. This has made tremendous price reduction effect and the consumers will be benefited only if the traders are making quick reduction of the prices of respective items. There is a concern that traders are reluctant to make price cut so that they can make profit.

Utility of the authority

The Authority’s main function is to ensure that traders are not realizing unfair profit by charging high price from the consumers in the name of GST. Traders may charge high price from the consumers by naming the GST factor. Similarly, they may not make quick and corresponding price reduction when the GST Council makes tax cut. All these constitute profiteering. The responsibility of the NAA is to examine and check such profiteering activities and recommend punitive actions including cancellation of licenses.

What is profiteering?

Profiteering means unfair profit realized by traders by manipulating prices, tax rate adjustment etc. In the context of the newly launched GST, profiteering means that traders are not reducing the prices of the commodities when the GST Council reduces the tax rates of commodities and services.

Conventionally, several traders will have a strong tendency to quickly increase the price of a commodity whose tax rate has been increased. But on the opposite side, they may delay the price reduction of a commodity whose tax rate has been cut by the government. A delayed or postponed price reduction helps business firms to make higher profit. The losers here are the consumers.

Constitution of the NAA

The NAA will be headed by a senior officer of the level of Secretary to the Government of India. There will be four Technical Members from the Centre and/or the States.

The GST Act itself contains provision for anti-profiteering measures. The Act recommend for the setting up of an institutional mechanism to ensure that the full benefits of price reductant factors (i) the input tax credits and (ii) reduced GST rates on supply of goods or services, made from time to time will be passed on to the consumers.

Besides the NAA, the GST law also proposes for other institutional arrangements: a Standing Committee, Screening Committees in every State and the Directorate General of Safeguards in the Central Board of Excise & Customs (CBEC). All these bodies will work together on the anti-profiteering front.

When the NAA certify that there is antiprofiteering in a specific case, it can order the supplier/business concerned to reduce its prices or return the undue benefit availed by it along with interest to the recipient of the goods or services. If the undue benefit cannot be passed on to the consumer, it can be ordered to be deposited in the Consumer Welfare Fund. In extreme cases, the NAA can impose a penalty on the defaulting business entity and even order the cancellation of its registration under GST.

     Source: Indianeconomy

4^thApril 2018 Daily Current Affairs

COMPETETION COMMISION OF INDIA(CCI):

Why in news?

Cabinet approves rightsizing the Competition Commission of India

About CCI

Competition is the best means of ensuring that the ‘Common Man’ or ‘Aam Aadmi’ has access to the broadest range of goods and services at the most competitive prices. With increased competition, producers will have maximum incentive to innovate and specialize. This would result in reduced costs and wider choice to consumers. A fair competition in market is essential to achieve this objective. Our goal is to create and sustain fair competition in the economy that will provide a ‘level playing field’ to the producers and make the markets work for the welfare of the consumers.

The Competition Act

The Competition Act, 2002, as amended by the Competition (Amendment) Act, 2007, follows the philosophy of modern competition laws. The Act prohibits anti-competitive agreements, abuse of dominant position by enterprises and regulates combinations (acquisition, acquiring of control and M&A), which causes or likely to cause an appreciable adverse effect on competition within India.

Competition Commission of India

The objectives of the Act are sought to be achieved through the Competition Commission of India (CCI), which has been established by the Central Government with effect from 14th October 2003. CCI consists of a Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.

It is the duty of the Commission to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition, promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers and ensure freedom of trade in the markets of India.

The Commission is also required to give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a statutory authority established under any law and to undertake competition advocacy, create public awareness and impart training on competition issues.

  SOURCE: CCI website

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National human rights commission bill,2018:

Why in news?

Cabinet approves the Protection of Human Rights (Amendments) Bill, 2018

News in detail:

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to the Protection of Human Rights (Amendments) Bill, 2018 for better protection and promotion of human rights in the country.

Salient Features:

1. It proposes to include “National Commission for Protection of Child Rights” as deemed Member of the Commission;

2. It proposes to add a woman Member in the composition of the Commission;

3. It proposes to enlarge the scope of eligibility and scope of selection of Chairperson, National Human Rights Commission as well as the State Human Rights Commission; and

4. It proposes to incorporate a mechanism to look after the cases of human rights violation in the Union Territories.

5. It proposes to amend the term of office of Chairperson and Members of National Human Rights Commission and State Human Rights Commission to make it in consonance with the terms of Chairperson and Members of other Commissions.

Benefits:

The Amendment will strengthen the Human Rights Institutions of India further for effective discharge of their mandates, roles and responsibilities. Moreover, the amended Act will be in perfect sync with the agreed global standards and benchmarks towards ensuring the rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual in the country.

Background:

The amendment to the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 will make National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) more compliant with the Paris Principle concerning its autonomy, independence, pluralism and wide-ranging functions in order to effectively protect and promote human rights.

About NHRC:

The Rights Commission (NHRC) of India is an autonomous public body constituted on 12 October 1993 under the Protection of Human Rights Ordinance of 28 September 1993.[1] It was given a statutory basis by the Protection of Human Rights Act, 1993 (TPHRA).

The NHRC is the National Human Rights Commission of India, responsible for the protection and promotion of human rights, defined by the Act as "rights relating to life, liberty, equality and dignity of the individual guaranteed by the Constitution or embodied in the International Covenants".

SOURCE: NHRC Website

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STARTUP INDIA:

Why in news?

8,625 Startups Recognised as on 30 March, 2018

About Startup India:

Startup India is an initiative of the Government of India:

The campaign was first announced by Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi during his 15 August 2015 address from the Red Fort, In New Delhi.[1] The action plan of this initiative, is based on the following three pillars:

1) Simplification and Handholding.

2) Funding Support and Incentives.

3) Industry-Academia Partnership and Incubation.

An additional area of focused relating to this initiative, is to discard restrictive States Government policies within this domain, such as License Raj, Land Permissions, Foreign Investment Proposals, and Environmental Clearances. It was organized by The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) A startup defined as an entity that is headquartered in India, which was opened less than seven years ago, and has an annual turnover less than 25 crore (US$3.8 million).

SOURCE: DIPP WEBSITE

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INDIA-NEPAL TIES:

Why in news?

K.P.Sharma oli who is elected recently as a PM of Nepal with a thumping majority. He stated to vist India this month.

THE HISTORY OF INDIA- NEPAL TIES(FROM 1950-2018):

The start of ties between the modern day states of India and Nepal can be traced back to the 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty. Articles 5, 6 and 7 of the treaty were the key components of the treaty. Article 5 allowed Nepal access to weaponry from India. Article 6 established national treatment for both Indian and Nepalese businesses (ie once imported, foreign goods would be treated no differently than domestic goods).

Article 7 established reciprocal treatment of Indian and Nepali citizens in the two countries, in residence, property, business and movement. While light on details, it did serve the purpose of establishing ties between the two nations and Article 5 especially signalling a potential for deeper ties between the two countries. A year previously had also seen the Communist Revolution in China, as well as the Tibetan conflict, which would have been an issue in the minds during the signing of the treaty.

1950 also saw the signing of the Treaty of Trade and Commerce between India and Nepal. Along with strengthening trade ties, the treaty would also streamline customs and duties regulations between the two nations, an important factor for Nepalese trade, given that it is a landlocked country. An Indian military mission would also be established in Kathmandu and be the source of tension in Nepal towards India.

The 1960s would mark the beginning of Nepal balancing its relations with both India and China. 1962 King Mahendra dissolving the parliamentary government and installing the Panchayat System, which was marked by the lack of political parties and constituted of a structure consisting of village panchayats all the way up to a national panchayat. Furthermore, the King was to remain as the head of state under this system.

Prior to that, in 1960, Nepal would sign another Peace and Friendship Treaty, with China this time around. Furthermore, in 1961, Nepal would sign a border treaty and also agree to the building of a highway route that would connect with China. All this signalled a drift away from India, but post the 1962 war between India and China, Nepal would sign a ‘secret’ agreement with India that allowed Nepal to only import arms from India in 1965. This would however be cancelled by Nepal in 1969, along with a call for Indian military personnel being removed from Nepal.

Multiple Trade and Transit Treaties were signed between India and Nepal as trade ties strengthened between the two countries in the 1970s and the 1980s. The first being in 1971, and in 1978. 1978 also saw an increase in the number of joint investments between Indian and Nepalese firms, all signalling further cooperation between the two nations.

Meanwhile, on the China front, Nepal would not see any significant developments in the 1970s, or the early 1980s, although strong relations would be maintained between China and Nepal throughout this time, as Nepal continued to balance its relations between India and China. The tipping point would come in 1989, with the failure to negotiate a new trade treaty and the purchase of weaponry from China, leading to the expiration of vital trade and transit of goods treaties between India and Nepal, placing massive strain on Nepal’s economy.

That massive strain would result in the restoration of the parliamentary democracy in Nepal in 1990 and after visits and meets in the early 90s between Indian and Nepalese leaders, trade ties would resume again with the signing of new treaties.

The 2000s would see the monarchy getting restored under King Gyanendra, only to be overthrown in 2006 and abolished in 2008, when Prime Minister Dahal (also known as Prachanda) started his first tenure as Prime Minister of Nepal. Under King Gyanendra, China delivered arms to Nepal after India had stopped its weapons supply once the King seized power. India would normalize its relations with Nepal once again after the King Gyanendra was removed from power.

Recent Developments

Currently, India remains the largest foreign investor in Nepal, is providing aid and is jointly constructing hydel power projects with Nepal, some of which was announced during Prime Minister Modi’s 2014 visit to Kathmandu, with the extension of a $1 billion credit line. Wary of these developments, China too has has made recent efforts to maintain a presence in Nepal, with investment in the Araniko Highway that connects Kathmandu with the Nepal-China border and facilitates easier trade and movement of goods between the two countries. Hundreds of millions of dollars have also been pledged to Nepal by China for infrastructure and even military aid.

Last year saw the Madhesi crisis, when people from the Madhesi community setup blockades at vital border crossings for trade with India, as they protested for better representation in Nepal’s constitution. This resulted in tensions between India and Nepal, with then Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli asking India to remove the official blockade. However, India denied any role in the blockade, stating that internal tensions in Nepal were the cause behind the blockade.

Meanwhile sharma started his second term as PM hope this visit will normalise the relationship between India and Nepal.

Looking Ahead

Landlocked between two major regional powers, the quick readthrough of Nepal’s ties with India and China shows that not being overly dependent on either India or China is a crucial aspect of Nepal’s foreign policy. Strategically, it makes sense for Nepal to balance between India and China, as being landlocked hinders Nepal’s opportunity to trade with the rest of the world freely and being overly reliant on either nation would only lead to potential problems if either country withdrew their support. The latest developments hence, suggest no diversion from this historical status quo and future talks between China and Nepal should be expected.

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The New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI):

Why in news?

A third of firms default on easy CSIR loans.

About NMITLI:

As a part of new millennium initiative, the Government mounted a farsighted R&D programme named New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative (NMITLI) in Public-Private Partnership mode in 2000-01.The responsibility of conceptualising, evolving and implementing the programme has been assigned to the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR).

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INDIA-RUSSIA TIES:

Why in news?

Defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Russia.

BACKGROUND:

The visit is significant because Russia is facing challenging from western countries after an “Sailsbury incident”. Ties between two countries is very strong and it has not affected on any circumstances. Almost 68% of India’s military hardware are imported from Russia. By this visit it was expected that the agreements which are already signed like sale of S-400 missile defence system will take off.

NEWS IN DETAIL:

Ms. Sitharaman began her first visit to Russia as Defence minister.

DEALS EXPECTED TO BE SIGNED:

* Setting up MRO (maintenance, repair, overhaul) facilities for Russian systems in India under the “Make in India” scheme, and to convert India into a hub for Russian spares for rest of the region.

* The two sides are also expected to finalise a major deal for supply of transport helicopters, worth over $1 billion for 80 more MI-17V-5 helicopters.From

* the Russian side, the latest offer is of a squadron plus of MIG-29 fighter jets for the Indian Air Force.

* Besides, the two sides are expected to discuss the purchase of S-400 air defence missile

* acquisition of Kamov-226T helicopters, for replacing the ageing Cheetah and Chetak helicopters.

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National company law tribunal (NCLT):

Why in news?

Centre proposes to double NCLT benches.

News in detail:

The government plans to have more benches of the National Company Law Tribunal amid rising number of insolvency cases coming up before the NCLT.

ABOUT NCLT:

The Central Government has constituted National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) under section 408 of the Companies Act, 2013 (18 of 2013) w.e.f. 01st June 2016.

In the first phase the Ministry of Corporate Affairs have set up eleven Benches, one Principal Bench at New Delhi and ten Benches at New Delhi, Ahmadabad, Allahabad, Bengaluru, Chandigarh, Chennai, Guahati, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. These Benches will be headed by the President and 16 Judicial Members and 09 Technical Members at different location.

Around 16,000 cases have been disposed of by the tribunal in the last one-and-a-half years.Matters related to companies law as well as the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC) come up before the tribunal.A case is admitted for resolution under the Code only after approval from the NCLT.

Conclusion:

The NCLT has played a major role in reducing NPA’S(Non-performing asset) in our country. By this proposal it will help in speedy disposal of cases which came before it which will lead to development of our country.

  SOURCE: MINISTRY OF COMMERECE AND INDUSTRY

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STEEL:

Why in news?

India pips Japan to become second largest crude steel manufacturer.

News in detail:

1. In a major achievement, India has overtaken Japan to become the world’s second largest producer of crude steel, China is the largest producer of crude steel in the world, accounting for more than 50% of the production.

2. India’s crude steel production was up 4.4% and stood at 93.11 million tonnes (mt) for the period April 2017 to February 2018.

Steps taken by government to increase the Steel production:

1. Quick resolution of various big-ticket steel mills under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code and the National Company Law Tribunal is expected to further hasten the process of achieving higher capacity utilisation

2. The government has taken host of steps to curb imports, push local demand with initiatives like ‘Make in India’, implementation of the GST and infrastructure projects, to encourage the domestic market.

3. The Steel Ministry was working proactively to lay down the road map to achieve 300 million tonnes by 2030.

SCHMES REALTED TO STEEL MINISTRY:

National Steel policy:

Some highlights of New Steel Policy:

1.  The Indian steel sector has grown rapidly over the past few years and presently it is the third largest steel producer globally, contributing to about 2% of the country's GDP. India has also crossed 100 MT mark for production for sale in 2016-17.

2.  The New Steel Policy, 2017 aspires to achieve 300MT of steel-making capacity by 2030. This would translate into additional investment of Rs. 10 lakh Crore by 2030-31.

3.  The Policy seeks to increase consumption of steel and major segments are infrastructure, automobiles and housing. New Steel Policy seeks to increase per capita steel consumption to the level of 160 Kgs by 2030 from existing level of around 60 Kg.

4.   Potential of MSME steel sector has been recognised. Policy stipulates that adoption of energy efficient technologies in the MSME steel sector will be encouraged to improve the overall productivity & reduce energy intensity.

5.   Steel Ministry will facilitate R&D in the sector through the establishment of Steel Research and Technology Mission of India (SRTMI). The initiative is aimed to spearhead R&D of national importance in iron & steel sector utilizing tripartite synergy amongst industry, national R&D laboratories and academic institutes.

6.   Ministry through policy measures will ensure availability of raw materials like Iron ore, Coking coal and non-coking coal, Natural gas etc. at competitive rates.

7. With the roll out of the National Steel Policy-2017, it is envisaged that the industry will be steered in creating an environment for promoting domestic steel and thereby ensuring a scenario where production meets the anticipated pace of growth in consumption, through a technologically advanced and globally competitive steel industry. This will be facilitated by Ministry of Steel, in coordination with relevant Ministries, as may be required.

   SOURCE: PIB

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”ONE ELECTION ONE CANDIDATE”:

Why in news?

EC backs one seat, one candidate policy.

News in detail:

The Supreme Court on Wednesday asked the Centre to respond to an affidavit filed by the Election Commission (EC) of India to amend the law to prevent candidates contesting from multiple constituencies.

A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra was hearing a petition filed by advocate Ashwini Upadhyay seeking a declaration striking down Section 33(7) of the Representation of the People Act of 1951, which allows candidates to contest from two constituencies at a time, as invalid and unconstitutional..

Mr. Upadhyay has asked the court to direct the Centre and the Election Commission to “discourage” independent candidates from contesting parliamentary and State Assembly elections.

The EC informed the court that it had proposed the amendment of Section 33(7) way back in July 2004. It was one of the 22 “urgent electoral reforms” the EC had suggested to a Rajya Sabha Parliamentary Standing Committee. It had pointed out that there had been cases of a person contesting from two constituencies and winning from both. “The consequence is that a by-election would be required from one constituency, involving avoidable labour and expenditure...”

The EC concluded that the “law should be amended to provide that a person cannot contest from more than one constituency at a time.”

EC suggestion

It suggested that a candidate should deposit 5 lakh for contesting in two constituencies in an Assembly election or 10 lakh in a general election. This would be used for the conduct of a by-election in the eventuality that he or she had to relinquish seat.

About Election commission:

The Election Commission of India is an autonomous constitutional authority responsible for administering election processes in India. The body administers elections to the Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, state Legislative Assemblies in India, and the offices of the President and Vice President in the country. The Election Commission operates under the authority of Constitution per Article 324, and subsequently enacted Representation of the People Act.

The Commission has the powers under the Constitution, to act in an appropriate manner when the enacted laws make insufficient provisions to deal with a given situation in the conduct of an election. Being a constitutional authority, Election Commission is amongst the few institutions which function with both autonomy and freedom, along with the country’s higher judiciary, the Union Public Service Commission and the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

3^rd April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

Exercise Gaganshakti-2018:

An all encompassing coordinated and composite exercise named Gaganshakti is being conducted by the IAF from 08-22 Apr 18. The aim of this exercise is real time coordination, deployment and employment of Air Power in a short & intense battle scenario.

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Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana(PMMVY):

Why in news?

Total amount of Rs. 271.66 crores paid to more than 11 lakh beneficiaries under Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY).

BACKGROUND:

Under - nutrition continues to adversely affect majority of women in India. In India, every third woman is undernourished and every second woman is anaemic. An undernourished mother almost inevitably gives birth to a low birth weight baby. When poor nutrition starts in - utero, it extends throughout the life cycle since the changes are largely irreversible.

Owing to economic and social distress many women continue to work to earn a living for their family right up to the last days of their pregnancy. Furthermore, they resume working soon after childbirth, even though their bodies might not permit it, thus preventing their bodies from fully recovering on one hand, and also impeding their ability to exclusively breastfeed their young infant in the first six months.

ABOUT PMMVY:

Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY) is a Maternity Benefit Programme that is implemented in all the districts of the country in accordance with the provision of the National Food Security Act, 2013.

OBJECTIVES:

1. Providing partial compensation for the wage loss in terms of cash incentive s so that the woman can take adequate res t before and after delivery of the first living child.

2. The cash incentive provided would lead to improved health seeking behaviour amongst the Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers (PW& LM).

Target beneficiaries:

1. All Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers, excluding PW&LM who are in regular employment with the Central Government or the State Governments or PSUs or those who are in receipt of similar benefits under any law for the time being in force.

2. All eligible Pregnant Women and Lactating Mothers who have their pregnancy on or after 01.01.2017 for first child in family.

BENEFITS UNDER PMMVY:

* Cash incentive of Rs 5000 in three instalments i.e. first instalment of Rs 1000/ - on early registration of pregnancy at the Anganwadi Centre (AWC) / approved Health facility as may be identified by the respective administering State / UT, second instalment of Rs 2000/ - after six months of pregnancy on receiving at least one ante-natal check-up (ANC) and third instalment of Rs 2000/ - after child birth is registered and the child has received the first cycle of BCG, OPV, DPT and Hepatitis - B, or its equivalent/ substitute.

* The eligible beneficiaries would receive the incentive given under the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY) for Institutional delivery and the incentive received under JSY would be accounted towards maternity ben

* Befits so that on an average a woman gets Rs 6000 .

SOURCE: Ministry of women and child development

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SWADHAR GHER SCHME:

ABOUT:

The Ministry of Women and Child Development is implementing the Swadhar Greh Scheme which targets the women victims of difficult circumstances who are in need of institutional support for rehabilitation so that they could lead their life with dignity. The Scheme envisages providing shelter, food, clothing and health as well as economic and social security for these women.

   SOURCE: Ministry of women and child development

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POHSAN ABHIYAN (NATIONAL NUTRITION MISSION):

Features:

1. The NNM, as an apex body, will monitor, supervise, fix targets and guide the nutrition related interventions across the Ministries.

2. The proposal consists of

· mapping of various Schemes contributing towards addressing malnutrition

· introducing a very robust convergence mechanism

· ICT based Real Time Monitoring system

· incentivizing States/UTs for meeting the targets

· incentivizing Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) for using IT based tools

·  eliminating registers used by AWWs

· introducing measurement of height of children at the Anganwadi Centres (AWCs)

· Social Audits

· setting-up Nutrition Resource Centres, involving masses through Jan Andolan for their participation on nutrition through various activities, among others.

Major impact:

The programme through the targets will strive to reduce the level of stunting, under-nutrition, anemia and low birth weight babies. It will create synergy, ensure better monitoring, issue alerts for timely action, and encourage States/UTs to perform, guide and supervise the line Ministries and States/UTs to achieve the targeted goals.

Benefits & Coverage:

More than 10 crore people will be benefitted by this programme. All the States and districts will be covered in a phased manner i.e. 315 districts in 2017-18, 235 districts in 2018-19 and remaining districts in 2019-20.

Financial Outlay:

An amount ofRs. 9046.17 crore will be expended for three years commencing from 2017-18. This will be funded by Government Budgetary Support (50%) and 50% by IBRD or other MDB. Government budgetary support would be 60:40 between Centre and States/UTs, 90:10 for NER and Himalayan States and 100% for UTs without legislature. Total Government of India share over a period of three years would be Rs. 2849.54 crore.

Implementation strategy and targets:

Implementation strategy would be based on intense monitoring and Convergence Action Plan right upto the grass root level. NNM will be rolled out in three phases from 2017-18 to 2019-20. NNM targets to reduce stunting, under-nutrition, anemia (among young children, women and adolescent girls) and reduce low birth weight by 2%, 2%, 3% and 2% per annum respectively. Although the target to reduce Stunting is atleast 2% p.a., Mission would strive to achieve reduction in Stunting from 38.4% (NFHS-4) to 25% by 2022 (Mission 25 by 2022).

Background:

There are a number of schemes directly/indirectly affecting the nutritional status of children (0-6 years age) and pregnant women and lactating mothers. Inspite of these, level of malnutrition and related problems in the country is high. There is no dearth of schemes but lack of creating synergy and linking the schemes with each other to achieve common goal. NNM through robust convergence mechanism and other components would strive to create the synergy.

     SOURCE: Ministry of women and child development

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SAUDI ARABIA-ISRAEL RELATIONS:

Why in news?

‘Israelis have the right to their own land’-said Mohammad bin salman(Prince of Saudi Arabia)

BACKGROUND:

Since the capture of Arab land by Israel after 1967 war none of the Gulf states recognized Israel as a country. The above statement made by Salman shows a significant change in stand of influential gulf state.

News in detail:

Some of the statements made by Salman in an interview to a private news channel are:

1. “Israelis are entitled to live peacefully on their own land”

2. “I believe the Palestinians and the Israelis have the right to have their own land. But we have to have a peace agreement to assure the stability for everyone and to have normal relations.”

3. “We have religious concerns about the fate of the holy mosque in Jerusalem and about the rights of the Palestinian people. This is what we have. We don’t have any objection against any other people,”

4. “There are a lot of interests we share with Israel and if there is peace, there would be a lot of interest between Israel and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries”,

This change is happening due to following reasons:

1. Since the Donald trump elected as US president.

2. Increased tension between Tehran and Riyadh has fuelled speculation that shared interests may push Saudi Arabia and Israel to work together.

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Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons(OPCW):

Why in news?

OPCW to meet over Skripal episode

BACKGROUND:

Western countries who are allies of Britain alleged that the Russian double agent skripal who was in Sailsbury,Britain was killed by an nerve agent which they say are of Russian origin but Russia completely deny these allegations and called OPCW for a transparent probe.

About OPCW:

The mission of the OPCW is to implement the provisions of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC) in order to achieve the OPCW’s vision of a world that is free of chemical weapons and of the threat of their use, and in which cooperation in chemistry for peaceful purposes for all is fostered. In doing this, our ultimate aim is to contribute to international security and stability, to general and complete disarmament, and to global economic development.

Headquarters: The Hague, Netherlands

Founded: 29 April 1997.

India is a member of OPCW.

Chemical Weapons Convention

Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction.

The Convention aims to eliminate an entire category of weapons of mass destruction by prohibiting the development, production, acquisition, stockpiling, retention, transfer or use of chemical weapons by States Parties. States Parties, in turn, must take the steps necessary to enforce that prohibition in respect of persons (natural or legal) within their jurisdiction.

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Boao Forum for Asia:

Why in news?

President Xi Jinping will attend Boao Forum, says Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi

ABOUT BOAO FORUM:

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) is a non-profit organisation that hosts high-level forums for leaders from government, business and academia in Asia and other continents to share their vision on the most pressing issues in this dynamic region and the world at large. BFA is modeled after the World Economic Forum held annually in Davos, Switzerland.

It has its fixed address in Bo'ao, Hainan province, China, although the Secretariat is based in Beijing. The forum known as the “Asian Davos”, inherits its name from the town of Boao, located in China’s southern Hainan province, which has been the permanent venue for its annual conference since 2002.

The Forum is committed to promoting regional economic integration and bringing Asian countries even closer to their development goals. Initiated in 1998 by Fidel V. Ramos, former President of the Philippines, Bob Hawke, former Prime Minister of Australia, and Morihiro Hosokawa, former Prime Minister of Japan, the Boao Forum for Asia was formally inaugurated in February 2001. The founding of the BFA was driven by the People's Republic of China and founded by 26 Asian and Australasian states on 27 February 2001. The organisation held its first meeting from April 12–13, 2002.

Discussions at the BFA focus on economics, integration, cooperation, society, and the environment. In the past the forum also addressed China's entry into the World Trade Organization, as well as Southeast Asia's economic crisis during the 1990s. The geopolitical strategy 'China's peaceful rise' was a topic of discussion for the forum in 2004. In addition to its annual meeting, the BFA also sponsors other forums and meetings related to Asian issues.

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INDO PACIFIC STARTEGY OF TRUMP ADMINISTRATION:

Why in news?

Recently Tump administration unveiled its Indo-Pacific Strategy

Significance:

The strategy will show how the Trump administration handle the aggressive China in South china sea which lies in the Pacific Ocean.

INDIAS ROLE IN TRUMP’S STRATEGY:

The use of term Indo-Pacific, as against Asia Pacific previously, by the Trump administration “acknowledges the historical reality and the current day reality that South Asia and in particular, India plays a key role” in the Pacific, in East Asia and Southeast Asia.

Briefing reporters on the Trump administration’s Indo-Pacific Strategy, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Alex Wong said “India as a nation has invested in a free and open order. It is a democracy. It is a nation that can anchor free and open order in the Indo-Pacific region. And it’s our policy to ensure that India does play that role and that it becomes over time a more influential player in the region,”

Conclusion

The first year of the Trump Administration was for introducing the strategic concept to the region; which is free and open Indo-Pacific Strategy. The rest of the years of the Trump administration is the implementation of those strategy.

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National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF):

Why in news?

Ministry of human resource and development(MHRD) released NIRF ranking for the year 2017-2018

NEWS IN DETAIL:

This is the third list released by MHRD since the start of the framework.

The list as follows:

About NIRF:

The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) was approved by the MHRD and launched by Honourable Minister of Human Resource Development on 29th September 2015.

This framework outlines a methodology to rank institutions across the country. The methodology draws from the overall recommendations broad understanding arrived at by a Core Committee set up by MHRD, to identify the broad parameters for ranking various universities and institutions. The parameters broadly cover “Teaching, Learning and Resources,” “Research and Professional Practices,” “Graduation Outcomes,” “Outreach and Inclusivity,” and “Perception”.

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NATIONAL MEDICAL COUCNIL BILL,2017:

Why in news?

Doctors association said the bill is flawed.

About the bill:

The National Medical Commission Bill, 2017 was introduced by the Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Mr. J. P. Nadda in Lok Sabha on December 29, 2017. The Bill seeks to repeal the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and provide for a medical education system which ensures: (i) availability of adequate and high quality medical professionals, (ii) adoption of the latest medical research by medical professionals, (iii) periodic assessment of medical institutions, and (iv) an effective grievance redressal mechanism. Key features of the Bill include:

Constitution of the National Medical Commission:

The Bill sets up the National Medical Commission (NMC). Within three years of the passage of the Bill, state governments will establish State Medical Councils at the state level. The NMC will consist of 25 members, appointed by the central government. A Search Committee will recommend names to the central government for the post of Chairperson, and the part time members.

These posts will have a maximum term of four years. The Search Committee will consist of seven members including the Cabinet Secretary and three experts nominated by the central government (of which two will have experience in the medical field).

Functions of the National Medical Commission:

Functions of the NMC include: (i) framing policies for regulating medical institutions and medical professionals, (ii) assessing the requirements of healthcare related human resources and infrastructure, (iii) ensuring compliance by the State Medical Councils of the regulations made under the Bill, (iv) framing guidelines for determination of fees for up to 40% of the seats in the private medical institutions and deemed universities which are regulated as per the Bill.

About MCI (Medical Council of India):

The Medical Council of India was established in 1934 under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1933, now repealed, with the main function of establishing uniform standards of higher qualifications in medicine and recognition of medical qualifications in India and abroad. The number of medical colleges had increased steadily during the years after Independence.

It was felt that the provisions of Indian Medical Council Act were not adequate to meet with the challenges posed by the very fast development and the progress of medical education in the country. As a result, in 1956, the old Act was repealed and a new one was enacted. This was further modified in 1964, 1993 and 2001.

About IMA(Indian Medical Association):

Indian Medical Association is the only representative voluntary organization of Doctors of Modern Scientific System of Medicine, which looks after the interest of doctors as well as the wellbeing of the community at large.

FLAWS OF THE BILL:

1. A regulatory body should be expected only to regulate and not to formulate policy, which is the function of Parliament and requires inputs from a number of sources, preferably with different points of view.

2. Having an almost entirely nominated commission, as the present Bill provides, is unhealthy. It will lead to a collection of ‘yes men and women’ whose chief qualification will be proximity to the existing government.

3. To start a medical college, State governments first issue a certificate of essentiality. The MCI then decides whether the proposed college has enough facilities to start the first year. Subsequently, inspections are done every year till the first batch of students has completed the final year. This has led to problems, as somewhere along the way, the Council finds that some colleges are unable to meet the requirements and withdraws recognition. This leaves students in a lurch and they then approach the judiciary to solve their unhappy situation. The proposed Commission has no mechanism to prevent this from happening. Merely shifting this responsibility to a medical assessment and rating board is no solution.

CONCLUSION:

He present Bill is unlikely to provide a dynamic new thrust to medical care in India. It falls between the stools of excessively ambitious objectives and micro-management. On the one hand the Commission is expected to formulate policy, but on the other it is to decide fee structure. The government should exhibit statesmanship and form a parliamentary committee to draft a new Bill altogether with clear and workable objectives. In the end, policy decisions should be decided by policymakers, and not bureaucrats.

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NEW METHODOLOGY TO CALCULATE NATIONAL HIGHWAYS:

Why in news?

Ministry of road transport and highways have released a list of how many kms of road constructed in this fiscal year 2017-18

New methodology:

The government would adopt international norms for calculating highways construction from this fiscal, which would include measuring lane kilometres instead of linear distance.

Until now, whether we constructed (1 kilometre of) six lanes or 14 lanes, it was considered as 1 kilometre, but the world standard is different.

He added that this method did not truly reflect the amount of work completed, and that globally the length of each lane was calculated separately.

The new method for calculating road construction would be used from the current fiscal.

Mr. Gadkari said that according to the existing method, 26.92 km of roads a day were constructed in the fiscal ended March 31, while according to the global method a total of 94.18 lane km was built.

2^nd April 2018 Daily Current Affairs

CORE INDUSTRIES:

WHY IN NEWS?

Index of Eight Core Industries growth is at 6.7% in the month of Jaanuary,2018

ABOUT CORE INDUSTRIES:

Core industry can be defined as the main industry. In most countries, there is a particular industry that seems to be the backbone of all other industries and that qualifies to be the core industry.

The Eight Core Industries comprise nearly 38 % of the weight of items included in the Index of Industrial Production (IIP)

1. Coal production (weight: 4.38 %)

2. Crude Oil production (weight: 5.22 %)

3.The Natural Gas production (weight: 1.71 %)

4. Petroleum Refinery production (weight: 5.94%)

5. Fertilizer production (weight: 1.25%)

6. Steel production (weight: 6.68%)

7. Cement production (weight: 2.41%)

8. Electricity generation (weight: 10.32%)

It is compiled and published monthly by Central Statistics Organisation(CSO) six weeks after the reference month ends.

  SOURCE: Quora

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PADMA AWARDS:

Why in news?

President of India confers Padma awards for the year 2018.

About Padma awards:

Padma Awards

Padma Awards, which were instituted in the year 1954, is announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day except for brief interruption(s) during the years 1978 and 1979 and 1993 to 1997.

The award is given in three categories, namely,

* Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service;

* Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order; and

* Padma Shri for distinguished service.

SOURCE: Padma awards website

PADMA AWARDS LIST 2018:

Padma Vibhushan

Illaiyaraja

Ghulam Mustafa Khan

P. Parameswaran

Padma Bhushan

Pankaj Advani

Philipose Mar Chrysostom

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Alexander Kadakin (Foreigner/Posthumous)

R. Nagaswamy

Ved Prakash Nanda (Overseas Citizen of India)

Laxman Pai

Arvind Parikh

Sharda Sinha

Padma Shri

Abhay and Rani Bang

Damodar Ganesh Bapat

Prafulla Govinda Baruah

Mohan Swaroop Bhatia

And many others.

A Zakia

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NATIONAL CULTURAL FUND(NCF):

WHY IN NEWS?

  34 projects successfully implemented under National Culture Fund Scheme till date: Culture Minister.

ABOUT NCF:

The National Culture Fund (NCF) was established as a funding mechanism distinct from the existing sources and patterns of funding for the arts and culture in India. It will enable institutions and individuals to support arts and culture directly as partners with its government.
The National Culture Fund (NCF) was created as a Trust in November 1996.

The Govt. of India vide their orders in Aug.-Sep.98 notified that the donations to the national Culture Fund will be eligible for tax benefit under section 10 (23C) (iv) and 80 G(2) of the Income Tax Act.

SOURCE: NATIONAL CULTURAL FUND(NCF)WEBSITE

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EDUCATION SCHMES IN NEWS:

1) RASHTRIYA UCHCHATAR SHIKSHA ABHIYAN (RUSA):

ABOUT RUSA:

Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA) is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), launched in 2013 aims at providing strategic funding to eligible state higher educational institutions. The central funding (in the ratio of 60:40 for general category States, 90:10 for special category states and 100% for union territories) would be norm based and outcome dependent.

The funding would flow from the central ministry through the state governments/union territories to the State Higher Education Councils before reaching the identified institutions. The funding to states would be made on the basis of critical appraisal of State Higher Education Plans, which would describe each state’s strategy to address issues of equity, access and excellence in higher education

2)Rashtriya Madhyamik Shiksha Abhiyan (RMSA)

1. This scheme was launched in March, 2009 with the objective to enhance access to secondary education and to improve its quality.

2. It is envisaged to achieve an enrolment rate of 75% from 52.26% in 2005-06 at secondary stage of implementation of the scheme by providing a secondary school within a reasonable distance of any habitation.

3. The other objectives include improving quality of education imparted at secondary level through making all secondary schools conform to prescribed norms, removing gender, socio-economic and disability barriers, providing universal access to secondary level education by 2017, i.e., by the end of 12th Five Year Plan and achieving universal retention by 2020.

SOURCE: Ministry of human resource and development

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Saakshar Bharat:

This programme was formulated in 2009 with the objective of achieving 80% literacy level at national level, by focusing on adult women literacy seeking – to reduce the gap between male and female literacy to not more than 10 percentage points .

It has four broader objectives, namely imparting functional literacy and numeracy to non-literates; acquiring equivalency to formal educational system; imparting relevant skill development programme; and promote a leaning society by providing opportunities for continuing education

  SOURCE: mhrd.gov.in

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BS VI:

WHY IN NEWS?

The Petroleum & Natural Gas Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said that we decided to proactively advance the roll-out of BS-VI fuel in Delhi from April 2018, instead of April 2020 after taking stock of the alarming pollution situation in Delhi in winters.

NEWS IN DEATIL:

* BS-VI fuel will bring down sulphur by 5 times from the current BS-IV levels – this is an 80 percent reduction which makes it extremely clean. It will improve emissions from the existing fleet, even from the older vehicles on road. BS-VI is as clean as CNG or even cleaner than CNG in some respects Pradhan said today at the launch of BS-VI compliant automotive fuels in Delhi and added we plan to extend the availability of these fuels across the country by 1^st April 2020.

* According to a Centre for Science & Environment study, air pollution takes 10,000-30,000 lives in Delhi every year. We believe that early migration to BS-VI fuels in the National Capital of Delhi will help in saving thousands of precious lives by bringing down vehicular pollution significantly.

* However, to take full advantage of the availability of such superior fuels, the vehicle technology has to move to BS-VI. Introduction of BS VI fuel will only give partial benefits if BS VI compliant vehicles are not put on the road. I am told that our auto-companies are already making BS VI cars in India and exporting them to developed countries. I am sure they can also do so for our own country. Pradhan appealed to all automobile manufacturers to start selling BS VI vehicles, wherever BS VI fuel is available

Why is it important?

Upgrading to stricter fuel standards helps tackle air pollution. Global automakers are betting big on India as vehicle penetration is still low here, when compared to developed countries. At the same time, cities such as Delhi are already being listed among those with the poorest air quality in the world.

The national capital’s recent odd-even car experiment and judicial activism against the registration of big diesel cars shows that governments can no longer afford to relax on this front.

With other developing countries such as China having already upgraded to the equivalent of Euro V emission norms a while ago, India has been lagging behind. While BS IV-compliant fuel currently in use has 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur, BS VI stipulates a low 10 ppm. Besides, under BS VI, particulate matter emission for diesel cars and nitrogen oxide levels are expected to be substantially lower than in BS IV.

The experience of countries such as China and Malaysia (which is currently grappling with haze) shows that poor air quality can be bad for business. Therefore, leapfrogging to BS VI can put India ahead in the race for investments too.

The use of new technology means higher costs for automobile manufacturers. And that, dear buyer, will be passed on to you when you look to upgrade to your next car.

Oil refiners too will need higher capital outlays to produce superior quality fuel and may look to pass on the bill to you. But remember it’s for a good cause.

The bottomline:

If there’s smoke without fire, it’s time for new emission standards.

  SOURCE: Ministry of human resource and development

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MEDICAL TOURISM IN INDIA:

WHY IN NEWS?

Foreign Tourist Arrivals in India for the medical purpose have shown a substantial increase from 2014 to 2016: Tourism Minister.

STEPS TAKEN BY GOVERNMENT TO INCREASE MEDICAL TOURISM IN INDIA:

The Ministry of Tourism has recognized Medical and Wellness Tourism as Niche Tourism Products and offers various facilities as given below to promote India as a preferred destination as well as facilitate the visit of medical tourists to the country:

(i)    The Ministry offers financial support as Marketing Development Assistance for Publicity and for organising Wellness and Medical Tourism Promotion shows as well as workshops/events/seminars to accredited Medical and Wellness Tourism Service Providers and Chambers of Commerce, etc.

(ii) A film on Medical Tourism has been produced in association with BBC and is used at various fora for promotional purposes.

(iii) Medical and Medical attendant visa has been introduced to streamline and ease the travel process of Medical Tourists. The e-tourist visa regime has also been expanded to include medical visits as well.

(iv) It has been decided to set up facilitation counters at the major airports of Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad and Bengaluru for tourists arriving on Medical Visas.

Apart from the above, the Department of Commerce and Services Export Promotion Council (SEPC) has launched a Healthcare Portal www.indiahealthcaretourism.com in English, Arabic, Russian and French languages as a single source platform providing comprehensive information to medical travellers on the top healthcare institutions in the country.

A National Medical and Wellness Tourism Board has also been constituted under the Chairmanship of the Minister for Tourism to provide a dedicated institutional framework to take forward the cause of promotion of Medical and Wellness Tourism including Ayurveda and any other format of Indian system of medicine covered by Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH).

The Board has members from the Ministries of Health, Commerce, External Affairs, AYUSH, Home Affairs, the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals and Healthcare Providers (NABH) as well as representatives from the major chambers of commerce, Hospitals and independent experts in the field of Medicine and Wellness. It works as an umbrella organization to promote this segment of tourism in an organized manner.

The Board has formed sub-committees on visa issues, accreditation and standards and marketing and promotion. The Ministry of Tourism collates data regarding the arrivals on Medical and Medical Attendant visas provided by the Ministry of Home Affairs. Following are the foreign tourist arrivals in India for medical purpose during 2014 to 2016:

Year

Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs)

2014

1,84,298

2015

2,33,918

2016

4,27,014

This information was given by Shri K. J. Alphons, Union Minister of State (I/C) for Tourism in a written reply in Lok Sabha today.

SOURCE:PIB

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EGYPT:

WHY IN NEWS?

With no real opposition, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisire-elected with the same proportion that he secured 4 years ago for his first term.

BRIEF HISTORY OF INDIA-EGYPT REALATIONS:

Egypt–India relations are bilateral relations between Egypt and India. Modern Egypt–India relations go back to the contacts between Saad Zaghloul and Mahatma Gandhi on the common goals of their respective movements of independence.[citation needed] In 1955, Egypt under Gamal Abdel Nasser and India under Jawaharlal Nehru became the founders of the Non-Aligned Movement. Indian people have warm feelings of friendship towards Egyptians whom they regard as an ancient civilisation like themselves and civilised people.[citation needed]

During the 1956 War, Nehru stood supporting Egypt to the point of threatening to withdraw his country from the British Commonwealth. In 1967, following the Arab-Israeli war, India supported Egypt and the Arabs. In 1977, New Delhi described the visit of President Anwar al-Sadat to Jerusalem as a "brave" move and considered the peace treaty between Egypt and Israel a primary step on the path of a just settlement of the Middle East problem.

Major Egyptian exports to India include raw cotton, raw and manufactured fertilizers, oil and oil products, organic and non-organic chemicals, leather and iron products. Major imports into Egypt from India are cotton yarn, sesame, coffee, herbs, tobacco and lentils. The Egyptian Ministry of Petroleum is also currently negotiating the establishment of a natural gas-operated fertilizer plant with another Indian company. In 2004 the Gas Authority of India Limited, bought 15% of Egypt Nat Gas distribution and marketing company.

SOURCE: Ministry of external affairs

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YEMEN WAR:

Why in news?

Saudi-led air strike kills 12 Yemeni civilians, including seven children

BACKGROUND:

How did the war start?

The conflict has its roots in the failure of a political transition supposed to bring stability to Yemen following an Arab Spring uprising that forced its longtime authoritarian president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, to hand over power to his deputy Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi, in 2011. President Hadi struggled to deal with a variety of problems, including attacks by al-Qaeda, a separatist movement in the south, the continuing loyalty of many military officers to Mr Saleh, as well as corruption, unemployment and food insecurity.

The Houthi movement, which champions Yemen's Zaidi Shia Muslim minority and fought a series of rebellions against Mr Saleh during the previous decade, took advantage of the new president's weakness by taking control of their northern heartland of Saada province and neighbouring areas. Disillusioned with the transition, many ordinary Yemenis - including Sunnis - supported the Houthis and in late 2014 and early 2015, the rebels took over Sanaa.
The president escaped to the southern port city of Aden the following month.

The Houthis and security forces loyal to Mr Saleh- who is thought to have backed his erstwhile enemies in a bid to regain power - then attempted to take control of the entire country, forcing Mr Hadi to flee abroad in March 2015.
Alarmed by the rise of a group they believed to be backed militarily by regional Shia power Iran, Saudi Arabia and eight other mostly Sunni Arab states began an air campaign aimed at restoring Mr Hadi's government. The coalition received logistical and intelligence support from the US, UK and France.

What's happened since then?

Almost three years of fighting appears to have entrenched both sides, while three UN-organised efforts to negotiate a peace deal have failed.
Pro-government forces - made up of soldiers loyal to President Hadi and predominantly Sunni southern tribesmen and separatists - were successful in stopping the rebels taking Aden, but only after a fierce, four-month battle.

Who controls Yemen?

Coalition ground troops landed in Aden in August 2015 and helped drive the Houthis and their allies out of much of the south over the next few months. Mr Hadi's government has established a temporary home in Aden, although the president remains in exile. The Houthis meanwhile have not been dislodged from Sanaa, and have been able to maintain a siege of the southern city of Taiz and to fire mortars and missiles across the border

	Lokpal	Lokayukta
Description	Central governing body that has jurisdiction over all Members of Parliament and central government employees in cases of corruption.	State level governing bodies that has jurisdiction over state government employees in cases of corruption.
Function	To address complaints of corruption, to make inquiries, investigations, and to conduct trials for the cases.	To address complaints of corruption, to make inquiries, investigations, and to conduct trials for the cases.
Scope	On a national government level basis	On a state level basis
Responsibility	Corruption in the central government	Corruption in the state government
Committee	a chairperson and a maximum of eight members, of which 50% will be judicial members 50% members of Lokpal shall be from SC/ST/OBCs, minorities and women	Proposal: three-member body, headed by a retired Supreme Court judge or high court chief justice and comprising the state vigilance commissioner and a jurist or an eminent administrator as other members

Year	Foreign Tourist Arrivals (FTAs)
2014	1,84,298
2015	2,33,918
2016	4,27,014

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