Current Affairs Summary-August 2016
A private member’s bill was introduced in the parliament to make provisions for direct election and empowerment of the office of mayor in country.
At present, six states namely Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, MP, UP and Tamil Nadu
Mayor can be held accountable for the irregularities as they will be directly elected by people.
It will create the office of Mayor politically relevant, hence it will create a culture of meritocracy, performance and accountability.
Competitive federalism is a concept where centre competes with states and vice-versa, and states compete with each other in their joint efforts to develop India.
In India, the government replaced Planning Commission by establishing NITI Aayog, with one of the mandates to develop competitive federalism in India.
Now, state governments do not look towards centre for policy guidance and fiscal resources completely.
The centre has increased the share of states in central tax revenue from the earlier 32% to 42%.
Among the High Courts, pendency in Allahabad is the longest and Sikkim has the shortest pendency of cases.
Totalizer machine
Totaliser machine mixes votes from various booths for counting.
In the current system votes from each Electronic voting machine are counted separately and hence reveal the voting trends in each polling station.
This leaves the voters in that vicinity open to harassment, intimidation and post-election victimisation.
Balochistan is one of the important locations in the economic corridor China has proposed to build at an investment of $46 billion linking the deepwater port of Gwadar with the city of Kashgar, a trading hub in the western Chinese region of Xinjiang.
The Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline is also planned to go through Balochistan.
ASIAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT BANK (AIIB)
Lack of infrastructure, poor intra-regional and regional connectivity and almost negligible amenities in urban spaces are some of the major challenges afflicting several countries of Asia.
The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has been projected as an “Asian tool” to deal with such challenges that have stunted the growth prospects of several Asian economies.
Importance of AIIB for India
Connectivity and infrastructure within the country and with countries in the neighbourhood are critical for rapid socio-economic development.
India is striving to develop its north-eastern region, a goal which can be swiftly achieved through greater regional cooperation and the support of multilateral funding agencies. For this purpose, India may consider pushing BBIN (Bangladesh-Bhutan-India-Nepal) corridor and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral, Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC) corridors under its AIIB proposals
India is identifying projects worth $2-3 billion that could be funded by AIIB.
The boards of State Bank of Bikaner & Jaipur (SBBJ), State Bank of Mysore (SBM), State Bank of Travancore (SBT), the unlisted State Bank of Hyderabad (SBH), State Bank of Patiala (SBP) and Bharatiya Mahila Bank
approved the scheme of merger with State Bank of India.
The Reserve bank of India (RBI) has recently identified public sector lender State Bank of India (SBI) and its private sector peer ICICI Bank as domestic systemically important banks (D-SIBs) in 2016.
SARFAESI: was enacted to enable Banks and financial institutions to auction residential or commercial properties without the intervention of any court or tribunal to recover loans. It led to the formation of ARCs, enabling banks to take over the management of secured assets etc
Debt Recovery Tribunal: They are alternate to civil courts formed for enforcement and recovery of debts. It provided a faster and easier procedure for recovery.
INTERNATIONAL ARBITRATION MECHANISM
Why in news?
India has urged the BRICS nations to develop an arbitration mechanism among them.
A proposal was made by Finance Minister at BRICS Conference on International Arbitration.
Need for such a mechanism
West’s domination: It is observed that the arbitration centers are concentrated in west with apprehensions of biased awards against emerging economies.
Further, the emerging economies are not adequately represented in the arbitration area thus the exigencies and concerns of developing nations are not put forward properly. Thus, there is a need for developing nations to build capacity.
Recent example- British oil and gas explorer Cairn Energy had initiated international arbitration seeking $5.6 billion in compensation from the Indian govt. against a retrospective tax demand of Rs. 29,047 crore.
India’s efforts
India is already working towards making itself as global Arbitration hub. Earlier in June 2016, Singapore Arbitration center had agreed to open its branch office at GIFT city.
It has made changes to its Bilateral Investment Treaty regime.
Further, we need to show restraint as far as domestic jurisdictions of courts to interfere in those arbitrations. The enthusiasm of domestic courts to interfere in the international arbitration proceedings has brought bad publicity to Indian economy in the past.
It has made crucial changes to the Arbitration and Conciliation Act.
SWIFT: EASE OF DOING BUSINESS
Why in News?
India has moved up four places in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Report 2016 since 2015. It is now ranked at 130 (out of 189 countries) compared to 134 in 2015.
This improvement comes after the launch of SWIFT (Single Window Interface for Facilitating Trade)
What is SWIFT?
Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) launched SWIFT on 1st April, 2016 as one of the initiative to facilitate trade and improve ease of doing business.
SWIFT enables importers/exporters to file a common electronic integrated declaration on ICEGATE (Indian Customs Electronic Commerce/Electronic Data Interchange Gateway)
The integrated declaration compiles the information required for Customs, FSSAI, Plant Quarantine, Animal Quarantine, Drug Controller, Wild Life Control Bureau and Textile Committee.
It replaces nine separate forms required by six different agencies and Customs.
CBEC has also introduced an integral risk management facility for partner government agencies (PGAs).
This will ensure that agencies select consignments for testing and examination based on the principle risk management.
APY has failed to meet its Phase 1 and Phase 2 targets. Public sector banks could only achieve 6.07% and 11.7% of the target in Phase 1 and 2 respectively.
What is APY?
It is a universal social security programme for all Indians. It came into effect from May, 2015.
Under APY, the govt. co-contributed 50% of the policy money (up to a maximum of Rs. 1000) for first five years in case of individuals, who enrolled before 31st March, 2016. This benefit is only enjoyed by those who are not income tax payers.
APY will replace the Swavalamban scheme.
The government also launched the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana and Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana along with APY.
INFLATION TARGETING
Why in News?
The government has notified an inflation (Consumer Price Index) target of 4% till 2021 with an upper/lower tolerance of 2 points.
What is it?
Inflation targeting refers to the monetary policy strategy where an inflation target is set and policy formulation is done in such a way so as to achieve that specified target.
The Reserve Bank of India officially adopted inflation targeting as a monetary policy strategy in February 2015.
The inflation target is to be revisited once in every five years.
In order to meet the inflation target, the RBI will raise or lower interest rates.
Monetary Policy Committee
A 6-member monetary policy committee is to be setup to decide key policy rates.
The panel will have three members from RBI. They are the governor, deputy governor and another officer.
The other three members will be decided by the centre based on the recommendations of a panel headed by the Cabinet Secretary.
The RBI governor will have a vote in case of a tie.
India will move to the toughest emission standards of BS-VI from the current BS-IV by 2020, skipping an intermediate level.
This will enable companies to focus on the more important task of making our vehicles compliant with BS-VI norms by April 2020.
MAA PROGRAMME: MINISTRY OF HEALTH
MAA – Mothers Absolute Affection is a nation-wide breastfeeding promotion program, launched recently by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
HIDDEN HUNGER BIOFORTIFICATION
As per UN agencies estimates “hidden hunger” affects one in every three children across the world, leading to deficiencies in physical growth and development of the brain.
Hidden hunger is a situation created due to lack of essential micro-nutrients in the body inspite of having good quantity of food intake.
Taking the example of rice, commonly used machine-polished rice has lost the bran (surrounding the seed) containing the pericarp and the ‘aleurone layer’ having small amounts of essential nutrients such as vitamins, iron, zinc and other inorganic components.
A particular variety of rice, termed DRR Dhan 45 (also termed IET 23832) is a zinc- rich rice plant developed by a group of scientists from the Institute of Rice Research, is moderately resistant to pests that cause leaf blast disease and can be kept longer.
It also has low glycemic index, so helpful for diabetic patients as it makes one feel satiated for longer.
TASK FORCE FOR NEXT 3 OLYMPICS
Why in news?
India had to content itself with two medals in the Rio Olympics, although a larger number of sportspersons qualified for the 2016 Games than for the previous events.
The medal tally came down from six in London Olympics of 2012 to just two.
This led the PM to announce the setting up of a task force which will help to plan for the “effective participation” of Indian sportspersons in the next three Olympics, to be held in 2020, 2024 and 2028.
CYBATHLON 2016
Why in news?
For the first time, Cybathlon, is going to be organized in Zurich on October 8 this year.
Unlike the Paralympics, the Cybathlon looks for excellence and innovation in the way of interfacing the human and the robotic components.
It intends to promote the development and widespread use of bionic technology.
FLOODED CANYONS FOUND ON SATURN’S MOON TITAN
Why in News?
NASA’s spacecraft Cassini has discovered steep sided canyons flooded with hydrocarbons on Saturn’s Moon Titan.
The canyons have been found to be hundreds of metres deep.
The findings are the first evidence of both liquid filled channels and deep canyons on Titan.
NASA’s Cassini-Huygen’s Mission
NASA’s Cassini’s Mission is one of the most ambitious missions ever launched into space.
The spacecraft was launched in two elements: the Cassini orbiter and the Huygens probe.
The spacecraft is loaded with powerful instruments and camera.
It is capable of taking accurate measurements and detailed images in a variety of atmospheric conditions and light spectra.
Cassini-Huygens reached Saturn and its moons in July, 2004.
STEPHEN HAWKING’S PREDICTION ABOUT BLACK HOLES
Scientists who created a virtual black hole in the lab claim to have
observed for the first time a phenomenon according to which some
particles can escape black holes.
It was predicted by British physicist Stephen Hawking more than 40
years ago.
Before this, it was believed by scientists that nothing could ever
escape from a black hole, not even light.
56 www.visionias.in ©Vision IAS
However, in 1974, Stephen Hawking suggested particles, that are now called Hawking radiation, could escape black holes.
As per him if a particle and its antimatter appeared spontaneously at the edge of a black hole, one of the pair might be pulled into the black hole while the other escaped, taking some of the energy from the black hole with it.
Antimatter – Antimatter is a material composed of antiparticles, which have the same mass as particles of ordinary matter but opposite charges, as well as other particle properties.
PROXIMA B
Why in news?
It is recently discovered Earth-like planet orbiting Proxima Centauri (the closest star to our solar system), in its Goldilocks Zone.
Features
It is 4.22 light-years away.
Its “year” is only 11 days.
The planet is in a “temperate” zone compatible with the presence of liquid water.
It is 25 times closer than Earth is to our sun, but since its star is only 12 percent as massive as our sun and much dimmer so it’s in the habitable zone.
The find has been called “the biggest exoplanet discovery since the discovery of exoplanets.”
PAVA SHELLS
Why in news?
PAVA, a chilli based non-lethal munition will replace pellet guns in Jammu & Kashmir, decided an expert panel of the Home Ministry.
What is it?
PAVA stands for Pelargonic Acid Vanillyl Amide. It is also called Nonivamide.
It is an organic compound characteristically found in natural chilli pepper.
On the Scoville scale (the degree to measure the power of chilli), PAVA is categorised as “above peak”.
It has the ability temporarily but severely irritate and paralyse humans.
NEED FOR AN HPV VACCINE
Why in News?
It is being debated whether HPV (Human Papilloma Virus) Vaccine should be included in the universal immunisation programme or not.
What is it?
The vaccine offers protection against sexually transmitted Human Papilloma Virus.
The vaccine also averts the risk of contracting cervical cancer.
It needs to be administered before the first intercourse.
WHO (World Health Organisation) recommends two doses of the vaccine preferably in the age of 9-13 years.
What is The Debate?
The cervical cancer cases in India has decreased potentially in the last 10 years due to improved personal hygiene, availability of running water in washrooms and better nutrition.
In such a scenario, the need for the vaccine is a matter of debate as it is an expensive intervention.
Moreover, it is difficult to determine its efficacy in averting the risk of cervical cancer.
Also, regular screening (such as the pap smear test) in India is given more importance.
On the other hand, WHO says that interventions such as screening and vaccination need to coexist and can even help eliminate cancer.
Current Status
Two vaccines: Gardasil and Cervarix are available in India.
The decision to include the vaccine in the immunization programme is pending with the Health Ministry.
Delhi became the first state in the country to launch this vaccine as a public health programme for schoolchildren.
MADE-IN-INDIA LEPROSY VACCINE
Why in news?
A first-of-its-kind leprosy vaccine developed in India is to be launched on a pilot basis in Bihar and Gujarat.
Significant Facts
Vaccine name is Mycobacterium Indicus Pranii (MIP).
It is developed by National Institute of Immunology (NII).
This vaccine will be administered as a preventive measure to those staying in close contact with leprosy patients.
Important facts about leprosy
Leprosy, caused by Mycobacterium leprae, affects around 127,000 people in India every year. About 59 per cent of the world’s leprosy patients live in India.
National Leprosy Eradication Programme was launched in 1983.
India achieved the goal of elimination of leprosy as a public health problem in Dec 2005.
Chhattisgarh and Dadra & Nagar Haveli have still not achieved elimination.
According to a study published in journal Science, Scientists have developed a highly effective method of converting carbon dioxide into methanol.
Methanol can be used as low emission fuel for vehicles.
What is it?
The gas produced by the burning of fossil fuels can be converted into usable energy source by using sunlight, similar to the way plants convert CO2 into sugar.
Plants use catalysts in the conversion; similarly here scientist used tungsten diselenide as catalyst to convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide being highly reactive can then easily converted into useful fuel such as methanol.
Significance: This method directly targets the conversion of CO2 making it highly effective for environment protection.
Pg 56-Aug
According to a study published in journal Science, Scientists have developed a highly effective method of converting carbon dioxide into methanol.
Methanol can be used as low emission fuel for vehicles.
What is it?
The gas produced by the burning of fossil fuels can be converted into usable energy source by using sunlight, similar to the way plants convert CO2 into sugar.
Plants use catalysts in the conversion; similarly here scientist used tungsten diselenide as catalyst to convert carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide being highly reactive can then easily converted into useful fuel such as methanol.
Significance: This method directly targets the conversion of CO2 making it highly effective for environment protection.
The Maharashtra government has created a draft internal security Act meant to deal with challenges posed by “terrorism, insurgency, communalism and caste violence”. Maharashtra is the first State in the country to draft its own internal security act.
QUANTUM EXPERIMENTS AT SPACE SCALE (QUESS)
China successfully launched the world’s first quantum satellite.
It is nicknamed ‘Micius’, after a 5th century BC Chinese philosopher and scientist who has been credited as the first one in human history conducting optical experiments.
In its two-year mission, QUESS is designed to establish “hack-proof” quantum communications by transmitting uncrackable keys from space to the ground, and provide insights into the strangest phenomenon in quantum physics – quantum entanglement.
SCORPENE SUBMARINE DATA LEAK
Scorpene is a conventional powered submarine weighing 1,500 tonnes and can go up to depths of 300m. Mazgaon Docks Limited (MDL) is building 6 Scorpene submarines with technology transfer from DCNS of France.
A massive data leak detailing the combat and stealth capabilities of the Indian Navy’s soon-to-be inducted French Scorpene submarines has been reported.
The report states that the leak could provide crucial intelligence data to India’s strategic rivals, such as Pakistan or China.
TARANG MOBILE APP, “E-TRANS” AND DEEP
Why in News?
Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines, Piyush Goyal launched TARANG mobile app, e-trans and DEEP e-bidding portals.
The portals have been launched with the objective to bring transparency in the power transmission sector
of the country.
TARANG (mobile app and web portal)
It stands for Transmission App for Real Time Monitoring and Growth.
It will act as a monitoring tool to track upcoming projects.
It will also be utilized to monitor the progress of inter-state and intra-state transmission systems in the country.
It would also include status of stalled/delayed transmissions of the country which would all the stakeholders to complete the projects promptly.
It will also monitor Green Energy Corridors.
e-trans
It is web platform for e-bidding and e-reverse auction for Tariff Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB) for transmission projects.
Till now, transmission sector providers have been participating in transmission bids through the manual mode. The interface will be electronic with e-trans.
Reverse auction is also being introduced in the transmission sector with e-trans.
DEEP (Discovery of Efficient Electricity Price)
It is an e-bidding portal for medium term (1-5 years) purchase of power.
It will provide a common e-bidding platform with e-reverse auction facility to facilitate nation-wide power procurement through a wider network.
MASALA BONDS
Why in News?
Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) has raised Rs. 3000 crore by issuing masala bonds. It is the first company to do so since RBI cleared it in September 2015.
What is it?
Masala Bonds are rupee-denominated bonds sold by Indian entities in the overseas market.
As of right now, these bonds are being traded at the London Stock Exchange.
Masala bonds were named so by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an arm of the World Bank after it issued rupee denominated bonds worth Rs. 1000 crore to fund infrastructure projects.
Significance: Masala Bonds can help Indian borrowers tide over exchange rate fluctuations and minimize losses. It will also help put rupee on the global map.
POSCO E-BUTTON
Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO), e-Box, is an online complaint management system for easy and direct reporting of sexual offences against children and timely action against the offenders under the POCSO Act, 2012.
The online system has been launched by the Ministry for Women and Child Development.
E-Box is very simple to operate and will help to maintain the confidentiality of the complaint.
The e-Box is incorporated prominently in the home page of National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) website ncpcr.gov.in where a user has to simply push a button named POSCO e-Box.
On pushing the e-Button, an animation movie will be played to motivate children facing such offences. This will be followed by submitting the complainant details along with choosing pictures showing the nature of offences. Complainants will get an auto-generated number to track their cases.
SUGAMYA PUSTAKALAYA
“Sugamya Pustakalaya” launched by department of empowerment of persons with disabilities, (DEPwD), is an online library for Persons with print disabilities as part of the Accessible India (Sugamya Bharat) Campaign.
The online library has been created in collaboration with National Institute of Visually Handicapped (NIVH), member organization of Daisy Forum of India (DFI), Bookshare and powered by TCS Access.
There are 52 lakh people with visual impairment (2011 census) in India who cannot access printed texts.
The library will focus on collection of all accessible materials from all over the country in single online library system.
The e-library platform will work in collaboration with international agencies such as ‘Bookshare’ and ‘Accessible Books Consortium’ to make accessible books from all over the world available to users in India.
Person with Print Disability, School/College/Library, Publisher/Government House/Textbook Production House, NGO, Corporate can be the end user of this online library.
MY HOSPITAL/MERA ASPATAL INITIATIVE
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has launched “Mera Aspataal /My Hospital” aimed at empowering patients by seeking their views on the quality of experience in a public healthcare.
The ICT-based Patient Satisfaction System (PSS) “Mera Aspataal / My Hospital” will be implemented in public and empanelled private hospitals.
A multi-channel approach will be used to collect patients’ feedback through web portal, mobile app, SMS and Interactive Voice Response System (IVRS).
‘Mera Aspataal’, together with the Kayakalp awards, as part of Swacchata Abhiyaan will spur the States in a spirit of friendly competition to get highest ratings for all their facilities.
FOOT & MOUTH DISEASE (FMD)
Ministry of Agriculture has allocated 100.00 crore rupees for FMD control under Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana in order to achieve the objective of FMD Mukt Bharat’ in next few years.
Background
Foot & Mouth Disease (FMD) is one of the most economically devastating contagious viral animal diseases affecting all susceptible cloven-footed animals.
As per the estimates by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), direct loss due to milk and meat is to the tune of RS. 20,000 crores per annum.
In order to prevent economic losses due to Foot and Mouth Disease, a programme named ‘Foot and Mouth Disease Control Programme (FMD-CP)’ is under implementation since 10th Plan Period.
GIFT MILK SCHEME
Why in News?
Union Government has approved a proposal for setting up an Institution for promotion of nutrition through milk/milk products (especially for children) utilizing Corporate Social Responsibility funds of NDDB.
Initiative is known as “Gift Milk” to improve child nutrition thought consumption of milk & milk products by providing milk free of cost.
The supply of milk / milk product would be facilitated through dairy cooperatives only.