Current Affairs Summary-October 2017
The T. K. Viswanathan committee, constituted by the Centre, has recommended introducing stringent provisions for hate speech.
About Members of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) Scheme
The MPLAD scheme was introduced in 1993.
It is implemented by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI).
It is a centrally sponsored scheme in which each MP has the choice to suggest to the District administration (DA) for works to the tune of Rs.5 Crores per annum, non-lapsable in nature, to be taken up in the constituency.
Further, out of the total amount, 15% and 7.5% funds must be entitled to areas with SC and ST population respectively.
On recommendation of Swaran Singh Committee, the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 provided for the insertion of Articles 323-A and 323-B in the Constitution.
LAW PANEL ON TRIBUNALS
Law Commission of India (LCI), in its 272nd report, has laid out a detailed procedure for improving the working of the tribunal system in the country.
What are Tribunals? ‘Tribunal’ is an administrative body established for the purpose of discharging quasi-judicial duties. An Administrative Tribunal is neither a Court nor an executive body rather a midway between the two.
On recommendation of Swaran Singh Committee, the 42nd Amendment Act of 1976 provided for the insertion of Articles 323-A and 323-B in the Constitution.
o Article 323A deals with administrative tribunals.
o Article 323B deals with tribunals for other matters.
The Administrative Tribunals Act, 1985- An Act to provide for the adjudication by Administrative Tribunals of disputes with respect to recruitment and conditions of service of persons appointed to public services.
Problems with Tribunals in India
Tribunals have largely replaced high courts for disputes under the various Acts. An aggrieved, by an order of an appellate tribunal, can directly appeal to the SC, side-stepping the HC.
Problems arising out of sidestepping the HC- The tribunals do not enjoy the same constitutional protection as high courts as the appointment process and service conditions of high court judges are not under the control of the executive. Many tribunals still owe allegiance to their parent ministries.
SC COLLEGIUM PROCEEDINGS IN PUBLIC DOMAIN
Recently Supreme Court Collegium has decided to put all its recommendations in Public Domain indicating the reasons for which it has decided to recommend or reject names for appointment, transfer or elevation to the High Courts and the Supreme Court.
E-SAMIKSHA
Why in news?
Central government departments have been asked to work out specific targets to be achieved by 2022 which will be monitored by PM under e- Samiksha platform. E-Samiksha
- E-Samiksha is an online monitoring and compliance mechanism developed by Cabinet secretariat with technical help from National Informatics Centre.
- It is used for tracking the progress on projects & policy initiatives and follow up actions of various ministries by cabinet secretary and Prime Minister on a real-time basis.
- An E-Patrachar facility has been launched which sends meeting notices and agendas, circulars, letters, etc. through e-mail and SMS, thus promoting the maxim of ‘Minimum Government and
Maximum governance’.
- E-Samiksha portal is designed to enhance efficiency, bring transparency, increase ccountability, and improve the communication between Government to Government, Business to Government and vice versa.
PUBLIC FINANCE MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
Why in news?
Government has recently made the use of Public Finance Management System (PFMS) mandatory to monitor all Central Sector Schemes.
What is PFMS?
- It is a web-based software application developed and implemented by the Office of Controller General of Accounts (CGA).
- Its coverage includes Central Sector and Centrally Sponsored Schemes as well as other expenditures
including the Finance Commission Grants.
- It acts as a financial management platform for government schemes as well as a payment cum accounting network. It is further integrated with the core banking system and has an interface with 170 Banks across the country including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
LAW COMMISSION PROPOSES ANTI TORTURE LEGISLATION
UN Convention against Torture (CAT) It is an international human rights instrument aimed to prevent torture and cruel, inhuman degrading treatment or punishment around the world. This convention is in force since 1987. Key Provisions: Prohibition on deportation/extradition of person to another State where there is danger of person being subjected to torture. Universal Jurisdiction must be established to try cases of torture where an alleged torturer cannot be extradited. Criminal liability for torture: States need to ensure that all acts of torture are offence under their criminal law. Education and information for prevention of torture to law enforcement, civil and military, public officials etc. Procedures for prompt investigation for allegations or victims of torture must be established. Courts must ban the use of evidence produced by use of torture. Protection, Compensation and rehabilitation to victims and witnesses and providing a system of effective remedies.
Law Commission of India has recommended the Centre to ratify the United Nations Convention Against Torture and frame a standalone antitorture law. Background Though India had signed the U.N. Convention against Torture in 1997 but it is yet to ratify it, making it one among the nine countries across the globe yet to do so.
Despite National Human Rights Commission’s strong support for the adoption of Anti-Torture legislation, ever since the Prevention of Torture Bill 2010 lapsed, the government has avoided any such legislation. The reasons sighted are- lack of consent among states for such a law (since Police and Public Order are State subjects) and that IPC and the CrPC were more than sufficient to deal with custodial torture.
BUREAU OF INDIAN STANDARDS ACT, 2016 Why in news? Recently the Bureau of Indian standards (BIS) Act 2016 was brought into force which repealed the existing Bureau of Indian Standards Act, 1986. Key Features of the BIS Act 2016 It establishes Bureau of Indian Standards as National Standards Body of India to formulate, implement and certify certain standards of quality for goods, services, articles, processes and systems. The act allows the central government to notify certain goods, articles, etc., which will need to compulsorily carry a standard mark in the interest of public interest, safety of the environment, prevention of unfair trade practices, national security etc. There is provision for repair or recall, including product liability of the products bearing Standard Mark but not conforming to the relevant Indian Standard.
India-EU relations India and the EU have been strategic partners since 2004. The EU is India’s largest regional trading partner with bilateral trade in goods at $88 billion in 2016.
CATALONIA’S INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM
An independence referendum, recently held in Catalonia was backed by 90 percent of voters supporting the region breaking away from Spain. It is an autonomous community of Spain in the
north-east end of the Iberian Peninsula. It has four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. The capital and largest city is Barcelona, which is the second most populated city in Spain.
THE KURDISH INDEPENDENCE REFERENDUM
Iraq’s Kurds voted in a referendum on support for independence. The referendum, while non-binding, is a symbolic milestone in the Kurds’ decades-long struggle to achieve statehood. The Kurds are widely recognized to be the largest stateless national group in the world. After World War I, Britain and
France carved up the Ottoman Empire, leaving the Kurds scattered mainly over four countries: Iraq, Iran, Turkey and Syria. Any moves for independence of “south Kurdistan” in Iraq have geopolitical ramifications and are severely opposed by Turkey and Iran in particular, as well as Syria as all of these countries have their own Kurdish population that might also get inspired to start such movement.
The United States has decided to withdraw from the United Nations Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), accusing the body of anti- Israel bias. US earlier withdrew from the organization in
1984 and then rejoined the organization in 2002. The US had cancelled its substantial budget contribution to UNESCO in 2011 in protest of its decision to grant the Palestinians full membership. U.S. laws bar funding to any U.N. agency that recognizes the Palestinian state. US will maintain its presence at UNESCO as an observer state.
PALESTINE JOINS INTERPOL
Interpol voted to accept the State of Palestinian as a member during the 86th Interpol General Assembly. Details Israel had contended that Palestine is not a state and that it is ineligible for Interpol membership. Under interim Israeli-Palestinian peace deals, a Palestinian Authority was granted limited self-rule in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In 2012, the U.N. General Assembly upgraded the Palestinian Authority’s observer status at the United Nations to “non-member state” from “entity”, like the Vatican. With their new presence in Interpol, the Palestinians can use Interpol to issue international legal proceedings against Israeli leaders and IDF (Israel Defense Forces) military officers.
Economic Affairs Committee
Recently, Uday Kotak panel on corporate governance has submitted its report to SEBI, suggesting various changes in corporate governance.
Silk industry (Sericulture) in India India is the second largest producer of silk in the world. It provides employment to over 8.25million people in the country. There are four major types of silk produced in India: Mulberry, Tasar, Muga, Eri of which Mulberry accounts for 70% of total raw silk production In India, mulberry silk is produced mainly in the states of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Jammu & Kashmir and West Bengal, while the non-mulberry silks are mainly produced in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Orissa and north-eastern states. Karnataka is the leading producer of silk followed by Andhra Pradesh. India’s north eastern region has the unique distinction of producing all these commercial varieties of silk contributes about 21 per cent of the total silk production in the country
Facts about Silk It is made of proteins secreted in the fluid state by a caterpillar (silkworm). Asia is the main producer of silk in the world and produces over 95 % of the total global output. China and India are two major producers of silk, followed by Japan, Brazil and Korea. Vanya silks refer to non-mulberry varieties of silks wild silkworms that feed on leaves of castor, kesseru,sal etc. These include tasar, eri and muga silk.
India accounted for the 2nd largest telecom network in the world with a subscriber base of nearly 1,210.71 million, as of July 2017. Tele-density (defined as the number of telephone connections for every 100 individuals) in India, increased from 17.9 in FY07 to 93.88 in FY18. India has the 3rd highest number of internet users in the world and it will emerge as a leading player in the virtual world by having 700 million internet users of the 4.7 billion global users by 2025. Telecom is the second highest revenue earner for government after income tax.
BHARATMALA PROJECT Why in news? Recently, Cabinet cleared Bharatmala project for construction of 24,800 Km of highway connecting western and eastern part of the country. It has been envisaged as an umbrella program that will subsume unfinished parts of NHDP. It will start in Gujarat and Rajasthan, followed by Punjab and subsequently traversing the Himalayan belt through Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, parts of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, West Bengal, Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur and then to Mizoram.
RO-RO FERRY SERVICE LAUNCHED
Why in news?
- Recently, Ro-Ro (‘roll-on, roll-off) Ferry Service was launched in Gujarat between Ghogha and Dahej.
Ro-Ro Ferry Service · It refers to vessels used to carry wheeled cargo like cars, trucks, semi-trailer trucks, trailers, and railroad cars, that are driven on (rolled on) and off (rolled off) the ferry on their own wheels or using a platform vehicle.
- It has been launched by Ministry of Shipping as part of Sagarmala Project. It funded partly by Gujarat Government and partly under Sagarmala Project.
Lo-Lo Service – Lift on – Lift off service is a vessel which is used to transport cargo which is loaded and discharged over the top of the vessel using cranes.
SANKALP & STRIVE SCHEMES: SKILL INDIA MISSION The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved two new World Bank supported schemes – Skills Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion (SANKALP) and Skill Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement (STRIVE).
Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAANJHI) It was launched for the development of model villages. Under it, Members of Parliament (MPs) will be responsible for developing the socio-economic and physical infrastructure of three villages each by 2019, and a total of eight villages each by 2024. Funds will be utilized from existing schemes such as MPLAD, NGNREGA etc.
GOLD OPTIONS ON MULTI COMMODITY EXCHANGE Why in news? Recently, gold options were launched for the first time in India on Multi Commodity Exchange (MCX).
Multi Commodity Exchange Similar to the BSE and the NSE, MCX is an exchange where commodities are traded. It was formed in 2003. It falls under the regulatory purview of SEBI. Four types of commodities are traded on the MCX – bullion, base metals, energy and agro commodities.
The launch of gold options is in line with the government’s announcement of including new commodities in the derivatives markets. This is the first commodity that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved for options trading in 14 years. The launch is also in consonance with the earlier initiatives taken up by the government for easing trade in gold such as the Gold Monetisation Scheme launched in 2015 and the Sovereign Gold Bonds launched in 2016. The options allow trading in 1 kg of gold.
Treasury Bills: These are government securities (debt instruments) used by the government to raise money for a shorter period of time i.e less than a year. Therefore, they are categorized as money market instruments. T-bills do not pay interest but are rather sold at a discounted rate and can be redeemed at the face value at maturity. Certificate of Deposits: It is a money market instrument issued in demat form or as promissory notes by banks against funds deposited at the banks. they can either be offered at a discounted rate or with a floating rate (to be determined by the market forces).
A Non-Banking Financial Company (NBFC) is a company registered under the Companies Act, 1956 engaged in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares/stocks/bonds /debentures/securities issued by Government or local authority or other marketable securities of a like nature, leasing, hire-purchase, insurance business, chit business. Difference between Banks and NBFCs NBFC cannot accept demand deposits They are not part of the payment and the settlement system and thus cannot issue cheques drawn on itself. Deposit insurance facility of Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation is not available to depositors of NBFCs.
Being classified as an NBFC, P2P lending will get access to credit bureaus and will have to share loan related
data with credit bureaus.
- Consequently, P2P platforms will also have to mandatorily share the borrower’s credit information with the
lenders which will help them make an informed decision.
- Also, sharing credit information of borrower with credit bureaus will make it difficult for defaulters to take
loans from other banks and NBFCs.
Fund transfers across the platform are to be done through escrow account mechanism.
- The RBI has also increased the maximum loan amount up to 10 lakhs across all platforms. It will largely
benefit small enterprises and start-ups.
- The RBI has also capped a particular investor’s exposure to a single borrower to Rs 50, 000.
Recently Agriculture and farmer’s welfare ministry reviewed project CHAMAN. Coordinated Horticulture Assessment and Management using geo-informatics (CHAMAN)
NOBEL PRIZE IN ECONOMICS Why in News? US economist, Richard Thaler won the 2017 Nobel Economics Prize for his contributions in the field of behavioural economics.
Nudge Economics/Nudging: It is an economic action in which small stimuli are provided to influence people’s behaviour. Nudges work at an individual level, but they are also used by companies. o Thaler asserted that short-term temptations to spend/consumption disrupt people’s plans to save for their old age, or live a healthier lifestyle.
He developed the theory of mental accounting, explaining how people simplify financial decision-making by creating separate accounts in their minds, focusing on the narrow impact of each individual decision rather than its overall effect.
ABU DHABI TO INVEST IN NIIF’S MASTER FUND
NIIF was set up in 2015 and registered as a category II alternative investment fund with the SEBI. The corpus of the fund is proposed to be around Rs. 40, 000 crore, with the government investing 49% and the rest to be raised from third-party investors such as sovereign wealth funds, insurance and pension funds. A governing council under the chairmanship of the Finance Minister act as an advisory council to NIIF.
Energy Efficient Services Limited (EESL) It is a joint venture of four National Public Sector Undertakings – NTPC Limited, Power Finance Corporation Limited, Rural Electrification Corporation Limited and POWERGRID Corporation of India Limited. It has been set up under Ministry of Power, Government of India. It implements Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP) and Unnat Jyoti by Affordable LEDs for All(UJALA) It also leads the market-related activities of the National Mission for Enhanced Energy Efficiency.
SAATHI SCHEME Why in news? Recently, Sustainable and Accelerated Adoption of Efficient Textile Technology to Help Small Industries (SAATHI) scheme has been jointly launched by Ministry of Power and Ministry of Textile. Under this initiative, Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), would procure energy efficient Powerlooms, motors and Rapier kits in bulk and provide them to the small and medium Powerloom units at no upfront cost. The initiative will be jointly implemented by Energy Efficient Services Limited (EESL) and the office of the Textile Commissioner on a pan-India basis.
INS KILTAN Why in news? Recently INS Kiltan (P30), Anti-Submarine Warfare (ASW) stealth corvette was commissioned into the Indian Navy. Details INS Kiltan is third of the four kamorta class anti-submarine warfare corvettes being built under naval modernisation project P-28. INS Kamorta and INS Kadmatt which were two ships constructed earlier under the same project. The fourth ship INS kavaratti is still under construction. It is India’s first major warship to have a superstructure of carbon fibre composite material resulting in improved stealth features, lower top weight and maintenance costs. It was designed by Directorate of Naval Design and constructed by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers Limited, Kolkata.
DISASTER-RELATED DISPLACEMENT IN INDIA
- According to an UN Office for Disaster
Risk Reduction (UNISDR) report, India
has been ranked as the world’s most
disaster-prone country for
displacement of residents.
About UNISDR
- Established in 1999, as part of the United Nations Secretariat.
According to the World Meteorological Organization’s (WMO) Greenhouse Gas Bulletin, the concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the atmosphere has hit a new high.
Vulture in India There are nine species of vultures in India out of which, 3 have been on critically endangered list of IUCN and also listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. These are: ü White-backed Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) ü Slender billed Vulture (Gyps tenuirostris) ü Indian Vulture/long-billed vulture (Gyps indicus) Note: Red-headed vulture is on critically endangered list of IUCN but not listed under Schedule I of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 They are known as Natural Sanitary Workers, essential for environmental and ecological balance
Prohibition on usage of anti-inflammatory Diclonefac, as it was found that the use of Diclofenac has caused steep decline in the population of vultures in the country. National Action Plan (2006) on Vulture Conservation: The Action Plan provides for strategies, actions for containing the decline of vulture population through ex-situ, in-situ vulture conservation. Vulture Safe Zones (In-situ conservation initiative): It is designated as natural habitat of wild vultures and is made free of the presence of the drug diclofenac in animal carcasses. It aims to protect and increase the remaining vulture populations and act as future release sites for the captive-bred vultures. Ramadevarabetta Vulture Sanctuary: It is India’s only vulture sanctuary in Karnataka
TURTLE SANCTUARY IN ALLAHABAD Government has decided to establish Turtle Sanctuary at Allahabad under Namami Gange programme. It includes setting up of a Turtle Rearing Centre, River Biodiversity Park at Sangam (confluence of the rivers Ganga, Yamuna and mythical Sarasvati) and awareness campaign about the importance of river Ganga and imperativeness of its conservation. It would contribute to the sustenance of more than 2,000 aquatic species including some of the most endangered fauna like turtles, the National Aquatic Animal — Gangetic dolphin ( Platanista gangetica ), the Gharial ( Gavialis gangeticus ) and numerous migratory and resident birds. Previously, Turtle sanctuary was set up in Varanasi in 1989 under the Ganga Action Plan-I.
ICHTHYOSAUR FOSSIL DISCOVERED Why in news Scientists in India have discovered a 152 million-year-old fossil of an Ichthyosaur – an extinct marine reptile – in the western state of Gujarat. Highlight It looks like a mashup of a dolphin and lizard hence also known as ‘fish- lizards’ in Greek. Many ichthyosaur fossils have been found in North America and Europe, but this is the first time an ichthyosaur fossil has been discovered in India. The fossil belongs to Jurassic era and was found inside rocks belonging to Mesozoic Era.
Nobel Prize for Chemistry has been awarded to Jacques
Dubochet, Joachim Frank and Richard Henderson for the
development of high-resolution cryo-electron microscopy.
Nobel Prize for Physics has been
awarded to Scientists Rainer Weiss,
Barry Barish and Kip Thorne for
contributions to the LIGO detector
and the observation of
gravitational waves.
What are Gravitational Waves and
LIGOs?
- Einstein’s general theory of
relativity predicts that massive
accelerating objects would disrupt
space time thereby generating
waves of distorted space. These are
known as gravitational waves.
- The most powerful gravitational
waves are created when objects
move at very high speeds, when a
star explodes asymmetrically (called a supernova), when two big stars orbit each other ,when two black
holes orbit each other and merge.To detect these waves scientists developed the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory or
LIGO.
NOBEL PRIZE IN MEDICINE
Why in News?
- Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2017 was awarded
to Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash and Michael W. Young
for their discoveries of molecular mechanisms controlling
the circadian rhythm.
About Yescarta therapy It is a type of gene therapy that turns cells in the patient’s body into a “living drug” that targets and kills cancer cells. It has been given Orphan Drug Designation, under which it will be provided with financial incentives to encourage the development of drugs. Side Effects: It might cause Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), a response to the activation and proliferation of CAR T-cells, which leads to high fever and neurological problems. Other side effects include serious infections, low blood cell counts and a weakened immune system.
PAIKA REBELLION Why in news? Recently the Minister of Human Resource Development announced that Paika Rebellion will be renamed as “First War of Independence”. History of Paika Bidroha The Paika rebellion took place in 1817 in Khurda, Odisha. Paikas were the peasant militias of the Gajapati rulers of Odisha who rendered military service to the king during times of war while taking up cultivation during times of peace. The armies of the East India Company overran Odisha in 1803 after establishing their sway over Bengal Province and Madras Province. The Raja of Khurda lost his primacy and the power and prestige of the Paikas went on a decline. But in 1817 Paikas rebelled against the British under the leadership of Baxi Jagandhu Bidyadhara, hereditary chief of militia army to throw off the British yoke. It ended with the surrender of Jagandbandhu in 1825. Arguments for declaring it as first war of Independence Pluralistic people’s movement: The revolt initially was localised to Khurda but it later spread to Ghumusar (part of present day Ganjam and Kandhmal Districts) , Kanika, Kujang, Nayagarh and Ghumusar. Further zamindars, tribals village heads and ordinary peasants participated in the movement. The Paikas attacked British symbols of power, setting ablaze police stations, administrative offices and the treasury during their march towards Khurda, from where the British fled.
MEENAKSHI TEMPLE GETS ‘CLEANEST ICONIC PLACE’ TAG Why in news? Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple in Madurai has been adjudged the best ‘Swachh Iconic Place’ (clean place) in India. More about the news The Swachh Iconic Places is an initiative under the Swachh Bharat Mission.
NOBEL PRIZE IN LITERATURE: KAZUO ISHIGURO Why in news? Swedish academy has awarded Nobel Prize in Literature for year 2017 to British author Kazuo Ishiguro. More about the news The author was born in Nagasaki, japan in post second world war time and then moved to Britain. Both his first novels, ‘A Pale View of Hills’ and ‘An Artist of the Floating World’, take place in Nagasaki a few years after World War II. He is best known for his novel ‘The Remains of the Day’ for which Ishiguro has won Booker prize as well in 1989.
NOBEL PEACE PRIZE 2017 AWARDED TO ICAN Why in news? The Nobel Committee awarded annual peace prize to International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons.
Nuclear Threat in the World At present nine countries of the world – India, Pakistan, China, United Kingdom, United States of America, Russia, Israel and North Korea possess around 16000 nuclear weapons.
DELAMANID- NEW TB DRUG In order to combat the increasing burden of Multi-drug-resistant Tuberculosis (MDR-TB), technical group in Ministry of Health has recently approved Delamanid drug. It is still in its 3rd phase of clinical trials however, global research results have proved to be promising such as in South Africa and Japan. Delamanid will be inducted parallel to Bedaquiline under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) and not replace it.