DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS -1ST AUGUST 2019- 10 MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS FROM THE HINDU

IMPORTANT TOPICS FOR TODAY 

                        http://dailycurrentaffairs-sumit.blogspot.com
                                             
BY SUMIT BHARDWAJ                                         1st AUGUST 2019

1.Officials keep vigil as Godavari rises at Bhadrachalam                   (GS-1,3)

• CONTEXT: Telangana irrigation officials are maintaining a vigil on the water levels in the Godavari with the river at the famous temple town of Bhadrachalam reaching 39 feet, just four feet below the first flood warning level, on Wednesday evening.
• The levels are likely to rise further with water being released from five dams in north and western Maharashtra into the Mutha and Godavari rivers. The reservoirs have recorded good inflows owing to heavy rain in catchments, officials said. Warnings have been issued to villages on the banks of the two rivers.
• RIVER GODAVARI :The Godavari is India's second longest river after the Ganga. Its source is in Triambakeshwar, Maharashtra. It flows east for 1,465 kilometres, draining the states of Maharashtra, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, ultimately emptying into the Bay of Bengal through its extensive network of tributaries.
• Bhadrachalam:Bhadrachalam is a town, known as a Hindu pilgrimage site, in the south Indian state of Telangana. Beside the Godavari River, the huge 17th-century Bhadrachalam (or Sita Ramachandraswamy) Temple complex is dedicated to Lord Rama and has many ornate carvings. Other nearby temples include Abhaya Anjaneya Temple, with large painted statues of Hindu gods and goddesses. Passenger boats travel the river to nearby towns.

2.‘Segment of rapid rail corridor to be operational by March 2023’  (GS-3)

• CONTEXT: Commuters will be able to travel on the country’s first rapid rail transit corridor in just four years as its 17-km-long Duhai-Sahibabad section in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad is expected to be operational by early 2023, an official said on Wednesday.
• Regional Rapid Transport System (RRTS) is a rail-based high-speed regional transit system. RRTS will be implemented for the first time in India in the New Delhi-Meerut stretch. It aims to provide the fastest, comfortable and safest mode of commuter transport in the National Capital Region (NCR).

3.Good July rains bring monsoon deficit to 9%(GS-1,3)

• CONTEXT: India’s monsoon deficit percentage has for the first time this year narrowed down to single digits thanks to better-than-expected July rainfall.
• As of July 31, data from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) says that the country got 28.5 cm of rainfall in July, about 4% more than what’s normal for the month. This has reduced the seasonal deficit (calculated from June 1 to July 31) from 32.8% as on June 30 to 9%, as July’s numbers suggest.
• The improvement in rainfall was distributed in all regions except the southern peninsula, which got 10% less rain than what’s normal for July
• The pessimism by forecasters in May was due to the looming fear of an El Niño, a climate phenomenon known to dry up monsoon rainfall. The threat of an El Niño has now largely receded. “Currently, weak El Niño conditions are prevailing over equatorial Pacific Ocean and forecasts indicate that transition of El Niño conditions to El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) neutral conditions is likely during the end of the monsoon season,” the IMD’s latest outlook indicates.
• Monsoon deficit :WHEN THE LPA IS BELOW NORMAL RANGE THEN IT IS MONSOON DEFECIT.
• India Meteorological Department (IMD) :The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) is an agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences of the Government of India. It is the principal agency responsible for meteorological observations, weather forecasting and seismology. IMD is headquartered in Delhi and operates hundreds of observation stations across India and Antarctica.Regional offices are at Mumbai, Kolkata, Nagpur and Pune.
• IMD is also one of the six Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres of the World Meteorological Organization. It has the responsibility for forecasting, naming and distribution of warnings for tropical cyclones in the Northern Indian Ocean region, including the Malacca Straits, the Bay of Bengal, the Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf.
• El Niño: is the warm phase of the El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and is associated with a band of warm ocean water that develops in the central and east-central equatorial Pacific (between approximately the International Date Line and 120°W), including the area off the Pacific coast of South America. The ENSO is the cycle of warm and cold sea surface temperature (SST) of the tropical central and eastern Pacific Ocean. El Niño is accompanied by high air pressure in the western Pacific and low air pressure in the eastern Pacific. El Niño phases are known to occur close to four years, however, records demonstrate that the cycles have lasted between two and seven years. During the development of El Niño, rainfall develops between September–November. The cool phase of ENSO is La Niña, with SSTs in the eastern Pacific below average, and air pressure high in the eastern Pacific and low in the western Pacific. The ENSO cycle, including both El Niño and La Niña, causes global changes in temperature and rainfall

4.Logged out: On protecting Amazon rainforest

(GS-1,3)

• CONTEXT:ACCORDING TO THE WRITER OF THE ARTICLE Brazil must recognise that the Amazon rainforest is a universal treasure
• It is a matter of global concern that deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil is increasing rapidly since January, when Jair Bolsonaro took office as President. Satellite images show that about 4,200 sq km of forests have been destroyed up to July 24 under the new government. 
• The Amazon basin, spread across millions of hectares in multiple countries, hosts massive sinks of sequestered carbon, and the forests are a key factor in regulating monsoon systems. The rainforests harbour rich biodiversity and about 400 known indigenous groups whose presence has prevented commercial interests from overrunning the lands. Much of the Amazon has survived, despite relentless pressure to convert forests into farmlands, pastures and gold mines, and to build roads. That fragile legacy is now imperilled, as Mr. Bolsonaro has spoken in favour of “reasonable” exploitation of these lands. Although the forest code has not been changed, his comments have emboldened illegal expansion into forests. Armed gold-hunting gangs have reached tribal areas and the leader of one tribe has been murdered in Amapa in an incursion. These are depressing developments, and the Brazilian leader’s criticism of satellite data and denial of the violence are not convincing at all.
• Amazon rainforest :
• The Amazon rainforest, also known in English as Amazonia or the Amazon Jungle, is a moist broadleaf forest in the Amazon biome that covers most of the Amazon basin of South America. This basin encompasses 7,000,000 km2 (2,700,000 sq mi), of which 5,500,000 km2 (2,100,000 sq mi) are covered by the rainforest. This region includes territory belonging to nine nations.
• The majority of the forest is contained within Brazil, with 60% of the rainforest, followed by Peru with 13%, Colombia with 10%, and with minor amounts in Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname and France (French Guiana). Four nations have "Amazonas" as the name of one of their first-level administrative regions. The Amazon represents over half of the planet's remaining rainforests,[1] and comprises the largest and most biodiverse tract of tropical rainforest in the world, with an estimated 390 billion individual trees divided into 16,000 species



5. Fortifying the Africa outreach (GS-1,2)

• CONTEXT:NEWS ARTICLE IS BASED ON THE AFRICA VISIT BY THE PRESIDENT AND THE DEFENSE MINISTER.
• This week two important Indian dignitaries began their respective visits to Africa. President Ram Nath Kovind commenced his seven-day state visit to Benin, Gambia and Guinea-Conakry (July 28 to August 3) and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Maputo on a three-day visit (July 28 to July 30) to Mozambique. The simultaneity of the two visits may be a coincidence, but it also indicates enhanced priority to Africa. This should be welcomed.
• Economic links:
• By 2017, India had cumulatively extended 152 Lines of Credit worth $8 billion to 44 African countries. India has also unilaterally provided free access to its market for the exports of 33 least developed African countries
• TEAM–9 in context with India-Africa Relations …In a bid to expand its economic reach, India launched an initiative in 2004 called Techno-Economic Approach for Africa–India Movement (TEAM–9), together with eight energy- and resource-rich West African countries viz. Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote D'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Senegal, and India. The initiative was part of a broader policy to engage the underdeveloped, yet resource-wealthy countries of West Africa, which required both low-cost technology and investment to develop their infrastructure. In particular, India increasingly wants to play an important role in helping Ivory Coast and other West African countries channel their energy resources more efficiently

6.Transforming livelihoods through farm ponds              (GS-3)

• CONTEXT:With an increased variability of monsoons and rapidly depleting groundwater tables, large parts of India are reeling under water stress. A number of peninsular regions like Bundelkhand, Vidarbha and Marathwada have been facing recurring drought-like situations. Given the enormity of the crisis, at a recent NITI Aayog meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi explicated the need to implement innovative water management measures, stressing particularly the importance of rainwater harvesting both at the household and community levels. Here, one intervention that has been tried out in various States, and perhaps needs to be taken up on a bigger scale, is the construction of farm ponds.
• Farm ponds can be cost-effective structures that transform rural livelihoods. They can help enhance water control, contribute to agriculture intensification and boost farm incomes. However, this is possible only if they act as rainwater harvesting structures and not as intermediate storage points for an increased extraction of groundwater or diversion of canal water. The latter will cause greater groundwater depletion and inequitable water distribution.
• MICRO IRRIGATION:
• Micro irrigation is a modern method of irrigation; by this method water is irrigated through drippers, sprinklers, foggers and by other emitters on surface or subsurface of the land. Major components of a micro irrigation system is as follows.
• Water source, pumping devices (motor and pump), ball valves, fertigation equipments, filters, control valves, PVC joining accessories (Main and sub main) and emitters.
• In this system water is applied drop by drop nearer the root zone area of the crop. 
• The drippers are fixed based on the spacing of crop.  Many different types of emitters are available in the market. They are classified as Inline drippers, on line drippers, Micro tubes, Pressed compensated drippers.
• Drip irrigation is most suitable for wider spacing crops. Micro sprinkler irrigation system is mostly followed in sandy or loamy soils.  This system is most suitable to horticultural crops and small grasses. In this method water is sprinkled in a lower height at various directions.
• Portable micro sprinklers are also available. They distribute slightly more water than drippers and micro sprinklers. They spray water in not more than one meter. It is used for preparing nursery and lawns in soils with low water holding capacity. 
• Advantages of drip irrigation system
• Water saving and higher yield
• High quality and increased fruit size
• Suitable for all types of soil
• Easy method of fertigation and chemigation
• Saving in labour and field preparation cost
• Disadvantage of drip irrigation system
• High initial investment
• Clogging of emitters
• Possible damage of system components due to animals, etc.
• An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock, rock fractures or unconsolidated materials. Groundwater can be extracted using a water well. The study of water flow in aquifers and the characterization of aquifers is called hydrogeology.

7.Thailand in talks with India to buy BrahMos cruise missiles     (GS-3)

• CONTEXT: The two navies are working closely in the areas of disaster risk management, maritime security safety, information sharing and interoperability.
• In possibly the first sale of BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles to another country, Thailand is in talks with India for their purchase, official sources said. A few other countries have also expressed interest in BrahMos but nothing has fructified yet.
• BrahMos cruise missile:
• The BrahMos (designated PJ-10)is a medium-range ramjet supersonic cruise missile that can be launched from submarine, ships, aircraft, or land. It is the fastest supersonic cruise missile in the world. It is a joint venture between the Russian Federation's NPO Mashinostroyeniya and India's Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) who together have formed BrahMos Aerospace. It is based on the Russian P-800 Oniks cruise missile and other similar sea-skimming Russian cruise missile technology. The name BrahMos is a portmanteau formed from the names of two rivers, the Brahmaputra of India and the Moskva of Russia.

8.Motor Vehicle Bill won’t infringe on rights of States: Gadkari        (GS-2)

• Legislation seeks to improve road safety through increase in penalities; aims to streamline licensing and permit process
• Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill 2019:



SOURCE:The Financial Express

9.Core sector growth slows to 0.2% in June

(GS-3)

• Growth of eight core industries dropped to 0.2% in June mainly due to a contraction in oil-related sectors as well as in cement production, according to official data.
• CORE SECTORS:
• Core sectors or industry can be defined as the main industry of the economy. In most countries, particular industry qualifying to be the core industry are said to be the backbone of all other industries. In India, there are eight core sectors comprising of coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity. The electricity has maximum weight of 10.32% followed by Steel (6.68%), Petroleum Refinery (5.94%), Crude Oil production (5.22 %), Coal production (4.38 %), Cement (2.41%), Natural Gas production (1.71 %) and Fertilizer production (1.25%). These eight Core Industries comprise nearly 40.27% of weight of items included in IIP, which measures factory output.

10.ICRA puts Coffee Day ratings under watch (GS-3)

• Rating agency ICRA has placed term loan rating of Coffee Day Enterprises Limited (CDEL) under rating watch with negative implications after the group’s promoter V.G. Siddhartha went missing and was found dead on Wednesday morning.
• ICRA:ICRA Limited (ICRA) is an Indian independent and professional investment information and credit rating agency. It was established in 1991, and was originally named Investment Information and Credit Rating Agency of India Limited (IICRA India).
• It was a joint-venture between Moody's and various Indian commercial banks and financial services companies. The company changed its name to ICRA Limited, and went public on 13 April 2007, with a listing on the Bombay Stock Exchange and the National Stock Exchange

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS -31 JULY 2019- 10 MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS FROM THE HINDU

IMPORTANT TOPICS FOR TODAY 

                       http://dailycurrentaffairs-sumit.blogspot.com
                                                
BY SUMIT BHARDWAJ                           31 JULY 2019

1.ABOUT CAFÉ COFEE DAY:

• WHY IT IS IN THE NEWS?
• IT IS IN THE NEWS BECAUSE V.G. Siddhartha, founder of the iconic Cafe Coffee Day (CCD) chain, went missing from a bridge across Netravati river in Mangaluru on Monday evening, sending shock waves in business and political circles
• Cafe Coffee Day Global limited Company is a Chikkamagaluru-based business which grows coffee in its own estates of 20,000 acres. It is the largest producer of arabica beans in Asia exporting to various countries including USA, Europe and Japan.
• V. G. Siddhartha started the café chain in 1993 when he incorporated Coffee Day Global which is the parent of the Coffee Day chain.The first CCD outlet was set up on July 11, 1996, at Brigade Road, Bengaluru, Karnataka. It rapidly expanded across various cities in India adding more stores with more than 1000 cafés open across the nation by 2011.
• In 2010, it was announced that a consortium led by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts would invest 10 billion (US$140 million) in Coffee Day Resorts, owned by the company.The same year, the logo was changed to the current logo, which the company stated was to showcase the chain as a place to talk. This was done with major changes in the layout of the stores, including the addition of lounges and a total revamp of the interiors

2.The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage)        GS-2

• CONTEXT: The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill, 2019, better known as the Triple Talaq Bill, was passed in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.
• MUSLIM WOMEN (PROTECTION OF RIGHTS ON MARRIAGE), BILL 2019:
• Key provisions of the Bill:
• The Bill makes all declaration of talaq, including in written or electronic form, to be void (i.e. not enforceable in law) and illegal.
• Definition: It defines talaq as talaq-e-biddat or any other similar form of talaq pronounced by a Muslim man resulting in instant and irrevocable divorce.  Talaq-e-biddat refers to the practice under Muslim personal laws where pronouncement of the word ‘talaq’ thrice in one sitting by a Muslim man to his wife results in an instant and irrevocable divorce.
• Offence and penalty: The Bill makes declaration of talaq a cognizable offence, attracting up to three years’ imprisonment with a fine.  (A cognizable offence is one for which a police officer may arrest an accused person without warrant.) 
• The offence will be cognizable only if information relating to the offence is given by: (i) the married woman (against whom talaq has been declared), or (ii) any person related to her by blood or marriage.
• The Bill provides that the Magistrate may grant bail to the accused. The bail may be granted only after hearing the woman (against whom talaq has been pronounced), and if the Magistrate is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for granting bail.
• The offence may be compounded by the Magistrate upon the request of the woman(against whom talaq has been declared). Compounding refers to the procedure where the two sides agree to stop legal proceedings, and settle the dispute.  The terms and conditions of the compounding of the offence will be determined by the Magistrate.
• Allowance: A Muslim woman against whom talaq has been declared, is entitled to seek subsistence allowance from her husband for herself and for her dependent children. The amount of the allowance will be determined by the Magistrate.
• Custody: A Muslim woman against whom such talaq has been declared, is entitled to seek custody of her minor children. The manner of custody will be determined by the Magistrate.
• Significance:
• Time has come to put an end to the suffering of Muslim women who have been at the receiving end of instant talaq for several years. More than 20 Islamic countries have already banned the practice.

3.Govt. did not try out GST system before rollout: CAG                           GS-2

• CONTEXT: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG), in its first ever audit of the Goods and Services Tax, has said the government had failed to try out the system before its rollout, leading to inadequate compliance mechanisms, and lower tax revenues. The report was tabled in Parliament on Tuesday.
• The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG):
• The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India is an authority, established by Article 148 of the Constitution of India, which audits all receipts and expenditure of the Government of India and the state governments, including those of bodies and authorities substantially financed by the government. The CAG is also the external auditor of Government-owned corporations and conducts supplementary audit of government companies, i.e., any non-banking/ non-insurance company in which Union Government has an equity share of at least 51 per cent or subsidiary companies of existing government companies. The reports of the CAG are taken into consideration by the Public Accounts Committees (PACs) and Committees on Public Undertakings (COPUs), which are special committees in the Parliament of India and the state legislatures. The CAG is also the head of the Indian Audit and Accounts Department, the affairs of which are managed by officers of Indian Audit and Accounts Service, and has over 58,000 employees across the country.
• The CAG is mentioned in the Constitution of India under Article 148 – 151.
• Goods and Services Tax:
• Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an indirect tax (or consumption tax) imposed in India on the supply of goods and services. It is a comprehensive multistage, destination based tax. Comprehensive because it has subsumed almost all the indirect taxes except few. Multi-Staged as it is imposed at every step in the production process, but is meant to be refunded to all parties in the various stages of production other than the final consumer. And destination based tax, as it is collected from point of consumption And not point of origin like previous taxes.
• Goods and services are divided into five different tax slabs for collection of tax - 0%, 5%, 12%, 18% and 28%. However, petroleum products, alcoholic drinks, and electricity are not taxed under GST and instead are taxed separately by the individual state governments, as per the previous tax regime.[citation needed] There is a special rate of 0.25% on rough precious and semi-precious stones and 3% on gold.[1] In addition a cess of 22% or other rates on top of 28% GST applies on few items like aerated drinks, luxury cars and tobacco products. Pre-GST, the statutory tax rate for most goods was about 26.5%, Post-GST, most goods are expected to be in the 18% tax range.
• The tax came into effect from July 1, 2017 through the implementation of One Hundred and First Amendment of the Constitution of India by the Indian government. The tax replaced existing multiple flowing taxes levied by the central and state governments.

4.Seven new destinations for pilgrimage scheme                                        GS-1

• CONTEXT:The Delhi Cabinet on Tuesday approved seven new destinations for the Mukhyamantri Tirth Yatra Yojana; the Excise Policy for 2019-20; and the construction of 144 temporary courtrooms at three district courts here.
• These include round trips from Delhi to Rameshwaram-Madurai, Tirupati, Dwarkadhish-Nageswar, Jagannath Puri- Konark-Bhubaneshwar, Shirdi-Shani Shingnapur, Ujjain-Onkareshwar and Bodh Gaya-Sarnath. In addition, in the existing Ajmer-Pushkar tour, Haldi Ghati destination has been added.
• Rameshwaram:Rameswaram is a town on Pamban Island, in the southeast Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It’s known for Ramanathaswamy Temple, a Hindu pilgrimage site with ornate corridors, huge sculpted pillars and sacred water tanks. Devotees bathe in the waters of Agni Theertham, off the beach east of the temple. Gandamadana Parvatham is a hill with island views. A chakra (wheel) here is said to bear an imprint of Lord Rama’s feet
• Dwarkadhish:The Dwarkadhish temple, also known as the Jagat Mandir and occasionally spelled Dwarakadheesh, is a Hindu temple dedicated to the god Krishna, who is worshiped here by the name Dwarkadhish, or 'King of Dwarka'. The temple is located at Dwarka, Gujarat, India. 
• Jagannath Puri:The Shree Jagannath Temple of Puri is an important Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Jagannath, a form of lord Maha Vishnu, located on the eastern coast of India, at Puri in the state of Odisha. The temple is an important pilgrimage destination
• Bodh Gaya:Bodh Gaya is a village in the northeast Indian state of Bihar. Considered one of the most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites, it's dominated by the ancient brick Mahabodhi Temple Complex, built to mark the site where the Buddha attained enlightenment beneath a sacred Bodhi Tree. A direct descendant of the tree sits within the complex today, along with six other sacred sites, including a lotus pond.
• Haldi Ghati :Haldighati is a mountain pass between Khamnore and Bagicha village situated at Aravalli Range of Rajasthan in western India which connects Rajsamand and Pali districts. The pass is located at a distance of 40 kilometres from UdaipuR

5.TIPU SULTAN          GS-1

• CONTEXT: Yediyurappa govt. scraps Tipu Jayanti .
• Tipu Sultan (born Sultan Fateh Ali Sahab Tipu, 20 November 1750 – 4 May 1799), also known as the Tipu Sahab or Tiger of Mysore , was a ruler of the Kingdom of Mysore and a pioneer of rocket artillery.He was the eldest son of Sultan Hyder Ali of Mysore. Tipu Sultan introduced a number of administrative innovations during his rule, including his coinage, a new Mauludi lunisolar calendar, and a new land revenue system which initiated the growth of the Mysore silk industry. He expanded the iron-cased Mysorean rockets and commissioned the military manual Fathul Mujahidin. He deployed the rockets against advances of British forces and their allies during the Anglo-Mysore Wars, including the Battle of Pollilur and Siege of Seringapatam. He also embarked on an ambitious economic development program that established Mysore as a major economic power, with some of the world's highest real wages and living standards in the late 18th century. 
• Napoleon Bonaparte, the French commander-in-chief, sought an alliance with Tipu Sultan. Both Tipu Sultan and his father used their French-trained army in alliance with the French in their struggle with the British, and in Mysore's struggles with other surrounding powers, against the Marathas, Sira, and rulers of Malabar, Kodagu, Bednore, Carnatic, and Travancore. Napoleon learned a lot about the Quran and Islam from Tipu Sultan. Tipu's father, Hyder Ali, rose to power capturing Mysore, and Tipu succeeded him as ruler of Mysore upon his father's death in 1782. He won important victories against the British in the Second Anglo-Mysore War and negotiated the 1784 Treaty of Mangalore with them after his father died from cancer in December 1782 during the Second Anglo-Mysore War.
• Tipu's conflicts with his neighbours included the Maratha–Mysore War which ended with the signing the Treaty of Gajendragad  The treaty required that Tipu Sultan pay 4.8 million rupees as a one time war cost to the Marathas, and an annual tribute of 1.2 million rupees in addition to returning all the territory captured by Hyder Ali.
• Tipu remained an implacable enemy of the British East India Company, sparking conflict with his attack on British-allied Travancore in 1789. In the Third Anglo-Mysore War, he was forced into the Treaty of Seringapatam, losing a number of previously conquered territories, including Malabar and Mangalore. He sent emissaries to foreign states, including the Ottoman Empire, Afghanistan, and France, in an attempt to rally opposition to the British.
• In the Fourth Anglo-Mysore War, the imperial forces of the British East India Company were supported by the Nizam of Hyderabad and Marathas. They defeated Tipu, and he was killed on 4 May 1799 while defending his fort of Srirangapatna.
• Tipu has been a controversial figure and criticized for his repression of Hindus and Christians. Various sources describe the massacres, imprisonment, forced conversion, and circumcision] of Hindus (Kodavas of Coorg and Nairs of Malabar) and Christians (Catholics of Mangalore) and the destruction of churches and temples which are cited as evidence for his religious intolerance. Other sources mention the appointment of Hindu officers in his administration and his endowments to Hindu temples, which are cited as evidence for his religious tolerance.

6.Helping Vembanad breathe.

GS-1,3

A HOUSE BOAT IN VEMBANAD LAKE

• CONTEXT:Efforts to get the lake rid of plastic waste on..
• A group of fishermen have been conducting plastic collection drive every year since 2011 to get Vembanad Lake, a designated Ramsar site and one of the most polluted waterbodies in the world, rid of plastic waste.
• Vembanad LAKE:Vembanad (Vembanad Kayal or Vembanad Kol) is the longest lake in India, and the largest lake in the state of Kerala[ Sundarban with area 2114 sq. Km is the largest Ramasar site in India] Spanning several districts in the state of Kerala, it is known as Vembanadu Lake in Alappuzha, Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad and Kochi Lake in Kochi. Several groups of small islands including Vypin, Mulavukad, Vallarpadam, Willingdon Island are located in the Kochi Lake portion. Kochi Port is built around the Willingdon Island and the Vallarpadam island.
• The Nehru Trophy Boat Race is conducted in a portion of the lake. High levels of pollution have been noticed at certain hotspots of the Vembanad backwaters. The government of India has identified the Vembanad wetland under the National Wetlands Conservation Programme.
• 
  

7.Padding up for the next UNSC innings.. GS-2

• THE WRITER OF THE LEAD ARTICLE SAYS THAT India must give exceptional weightage to how all Security Council issues have an impact on the subcontinent.
• Despite the fact that India has served as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) more often than any country other than Japan from the Asia-Pacific Group, it is a matter of satisfaction and a tribute to Indian diplomacy that the Group unanimously decided this year to support India for an eighth second-year term. The elections are to take place in June next year. This means that India’s election is assured and its term will run in the calendar years 2021 and 2022.
• The dynamics of international politics are fast moving.
• IMPORTANT ASPECTS IN THE NEWS ARTICLE:
• UNSC:
• The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations (UN), charged with ensuring international peace and security,accepting new members to the United Nationsand approving any changes to its charter.Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations and international sanctions as well as the authorization of military actions through resolutions – it is the only body of the United Nations with the authority to issue binding resolutions to member states. The council held its first session on 17 January 1946.
• Washington Consensus:
• The Washington Consensus is a set of 10 economic policy prescriptions considered to constitute the "standard" reform package promoted for crisis-wracked developing countries by Washington, D.C.-based institutions such as the International Monetary Fund, World Bank and United States Department of the Treasury
• World Trade Organisation:
• The World Trade Organization (WTO) is an intergovernmental organization that is concerned with the regulation of international trade between nations. The WTO officially commenced on 1 January 1995 under the Marrakesh Agreement, signed by 123 nations on 15 April 1994, replacing the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT), which commenced in 1948. It is the largest international economic organization in the world.
• The WTO deals with regulation of trade in goods, services and intellectual property between participating countries by providing a framework for negotiating trade agreements and a dispute resolution process aimed at enforcing participants' adherence to WTO agreements, which are signed by representatives of member governments:fol.9–10 and ratified by their parliaments.The WTO prohibits discrimination between trading partners, but provides exceptions for environmental protection, national security, and other important goals. Trade-related disputes are resolved by independent judges at the WTO through a dispute resolution process.
• UNESCO:
• The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) based in Paris. Its declared purpose is to contribute to peace and security by promoting international collaboration in education, sciences, and culture in order to increase universal respect for justice, the rule of law, and human rights along with fundamental freedom proclaimed in the United Nations Charter. It is the successor of the League of Nations' International Committee on Intellectual Cooperation.
• UNESCO has 193 member states and 11 associate members.[4] Most of its field offices are "cluster" offices covering three or more countries; national and regional offices also exist.
• Demosthenes was a Greek statesman and orator of ancient Athens. His orations constitute a significant expression of contemporary Athenian intellectual prowess and provide an insight into the politics and culture of ancient Greece during the 4th century BC

8.The Odisha model……  GS-2

• CONTEXT:Other States could take a cue from Odisha, which has empowered women politically and financially:
• The representation of women MPs in the 17th Lok Sabha has seen an improvement from 11% in 2014 to 14% in 2019, but it is still lower than the world average of 24.3%. In 2019, 715 women candidates contested the Lok Sabha election, while the number of men who contested stood at 7,334.
• Odisha may be seen as one of the underdeveloped States in the country and a laggard in terms of some human development indicators. However, other States could take a cue from the Odisha government’s model for women’s empowerment
• The Biju Janata Dal (BJD)-led State government was among the first to reserve 50% of seats in Panchayati Raj institutions for women. Further, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik nominated women for one-third of the seats in Lok Sabha election. Thus, seven candidates out of 21 fielded by the party for the 2019 election were women. The success rate among the women candidates was higher than for men, as five out of seven won the elections
• Odisha has six lakh self-help groups with seven million women under its flagship ‘Mission Shakti’ programme
• The self-help groups are linked to the Odisha Livelihoods Mission and Odisha Rural Development and Marketing Society
• The Women and Child Development Department has been rechristened as the Women and Child Development and Mission Shakti Department.

9.Focussing on the critical years of a child’s life GS-2

• CONTEXT:The draft National Education Policy starts its opening sentence with a hitherto little-known fact: “The learning process for a child commences immediately at birth.” Many believe that children start learning only in school. It is true that language and numerical proficiency, and analytical skills, are attained in school, but the foundation for such a learning capacity is laid much earlier, and it happens without our knowledge. Higher cognitive functions attain their peak of growth between the ages of one and three — before school education begins.
• The centres for vision and hearing in the cerebrum develop between the second and fifth months of one’s life. In these areas, the formation of nerve connections peaks by the fourth month, and is followed by a gradual retraction or “blooming and pruning” until the end of the preschool period.
• ABOUT DRAFT NEP:
• Highlights of the draft:
• It proposes expansion of the RTE Act. It aims to cover the three years of preschool before Class 1.
• It wants early childhood education to be overseen and regulated by the Ministry of HRD as part of the school system.
• This will be in addition to the private pre-schools and anganwadis that currently cater to the 3-to-6 years age group.
• It suggests a new integrated curricular framework for 3 to 8-year olds with a flexible system based on play, activity and discovery, and beginning exposure to three languages from age 3 onwards.
• The NEP could result in an upheaval in the anganwadi system which has been overseen by the Ministry of WCD for more than four decades.
• ICDS: Integrated Child Development Services is a government programme in India which provides food, preschool education, primary healthcare, immunization, health check-up and referral services to children under 6 years of age and their mothers

10.China bets big on 5G, to spend $150 billion in next 6 years       GS-2,3

• CONTEXT:China is planning to spend $150 billion on 5G wireless technology in the next six years — a move to jump-start automated manufacturing and enable Beijing to emerge as a world leader in Artificial Intelligence (AI).
• Chinese companies Huawei Technologies and ZTE are in the cross-hairs of the Trump administration. In May, Washington logged Huawei in its trade backlist, citing security concerns, effectively blocking the company from sourcing hardware, software and services from U.S. suppliers.
• 5G:
• 5G is the fifth generation cellular network technology. The industry association 3GPP defines any system using "5G NR" software as "5G", a definition that came into general use by late 2018. Others may reserve the term for systems that meet the requirements of the ITU IMT-2020. 3GPP will submit their 5G NR to the ITU
• Artificial Intelligence (AI):
• In computer science, artificial intelligence (AI), sometimes called machine intelligence, is intelligence demonstrated by machines, in contrast to the natural intelligence displayed by humans. Colloquially, the term "artificial intelligence" is often used to describe machines (or computers) that mimic "cognitive" functions that humans associate with the human mind, such as "learning" and "problem solving.



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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS -30 JULY 2019- 10 MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS FROM THE HINDU

IMPORTANT TOPICS FOR TODAY 

                         http://dailycurrentaffairs-sumit.blogspot.com 
                                             
BY SUMIT BHARDWAJ                                30 JULY 2019

1.Madhya Pradesh's Pench sanctuary, Kerala’s Periyar sanctuary rated top tiger reserves     

(GS-1,3)

• CONTEXT:Madhya Pradesh's Pench sanctuary and Kerala’s Periyar sanctuary emerged as the best managed tiger reserves in the country, according to an evaluation of India’s 50 tiger sanctuaries released along with the 4th National Tiger Estimation (Tiger census) on Monday.
• The Dampa and Rajaji reserves, in Mizoram and Uttarakhand respectively, were left at the bottom of the ladder with a score of 42.97% and 44.53% respectively. The top performers scored 93.75%. A score of 41% and above was marked as ‘fair’ and those 75% and above rated ‘very good.’
• On the whole, the Western Ghats cluster comprising reserves in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka scored an average of 81%. These included the tiger reserves at Bandipur, Nagarhole, Bhadra, Billigiri-Ranganatha Swamy Temple, Kali, Periyar, Perambikulam, Sathyamangalam, Mudumalai, Anamalai, and Kalakad-Mundantharai.
• The ones in Ranthambore and Sariska in Rajasthan saw a dip in ratings: from ‘good’ to ‘fair’ compared to their ratings in 2014. Kerala had the best kept reserves followed by Madhya Pradesh. Chhattisgarh was the ‘least performing State’ in reserve management

2.A straightforward lesson on resolution     

GS-2

• IN THIS LEAD ARTICLE THE WRITER IS POINTING OUT ABOUT THE  U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim last Monday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him at the G-20 summit in June in Japan to mediate between India and Pakistan on the Kashmir question may, for the moment, have been deftly handled by the two foreign policy establishments, but this is not a question that is likely to go away all too easily. Given that Mr. Trump made this rather out-of-the-blue statement during Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan’s visit to the United States, it has fuelled further speculation about what it implies.
• To be fair to the Indian establishment’s traditional logic, third party mediation in Jammu and Kashmir might not be a useful idea simply because third parties typically come with their own agenda. Second, it might do more harm than good in an age of hypernationalism and frenzied media attention on anything to do with Kashmir. In a milieu where bilateral diplomacy on Jammu and Kashmir itself comes under intense scrutiny from domestic political forces, third party mediation is almost impossible to even consider. More so, past instances of third party mediation have had mixed results.
•  Conflict resolution and Crisis management: While both involve some amount of mediation, the former is focussed on a specific issue — Kashmir in this case — and seeks to address and resolve the root causes of the conflict. The latter involves mediation during an ongoing crisis with a potential for escalation. Crisis mediation unlike conflict resolution does not seek to resolve the political or root causes of a conflict.

3.10 monuments to stay open till 9 p.m.: Minister                                     GS-1

• CONTEXT:Ten historical monuments across the country, including Humayun’s Tomb and Safdarjung Tomb in Delhi, will be open to the public from sunrise till 9 p.m., said Union Minister of State (independent charge) for Culture and Tourism Prahlad Singh Patel on Monday.
• The extended hours also apply to Rajarani Temple Complex in Bhubaneswar, Dulhadeo Temple Complex in Khajuraho, Sheikh Chilli Tomb in Kurukshetra, the group of monuments at Pattadakal, Gol Gumbaz in Vijayapura, the group of temples at Markanda, Man Mahal in Varanasi, and Rani-ki-Vav in Patan.
• Humayun’s Tomb :
• Humayun's tomb is the tomb of the Mughal Emperor Humayun in Delhi, India. The tomb was commissioned by Humayun's first wife and chief consort, Empress Bega Begum, in 1569-70, and designed by Mirak Mirza Ghiyas and his son, Sayyid Muhammad, Persian architects chosen by her
• Safdarjung Tomb :
• Safdarjung's Tomb is a sandstone and marble mausoleum in Delhi, India. It was built in 1754 in the late Mughal Empire style for Nawab Safdarjung. The monument has an ambience of spaciousness and an imposing presence with its domed and arched red brown and white coloured structures.
• Rajarani Temple :
• Rajarani Temple is an 11th-century Hindu temple located in Bhubaneswar, the capital city of Odisha, India.
• Dulhadeo Temple:
•  The Duladeo Temple is a Hindu temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, India. The temple is dedicated to the god Shiva in the form of a linga, which is deified in the sanctum. 'Dulodeo' means "Holy Bridegroom". The temple is also known as "Kunwar Math". The temple faces east and is dated to 1000–1150 AD.
• Sheikh Chilli Tomb:
• Sheikh Chilli's Tomb is complex of structures located in Thanesar, Haryana, India, near Kurukshetra. It includes two tombs, a madarsa, mughal gardens and various subsequent features
• Gol Gumbaz :
• Gol Gumbaz is the mausoleum of king Mohammed Adil Shah, Sultan of Bijapur. Construction of the tomb, located in Vijayapura, Karnataka, India, was started in 1626 and completed in 1656. The name is based on Gola gummata derived from Gol Gombadh meaning "circular dome". It follows the style of Deccan architecture
• Man Mahal :
• The Man Mahal Pushkar is one of the greatest palaces of Pushkar. Built as a guest house of Raja Man Singh I, the palace is one of the most attractive spot to visit in Pushkar.
• Rani-ki-Vav :
• Rani ki Vav is a stepwell situated in the town of Patan in Gujarat state of India. It is located on the banks of Saraswati river. Popular tradition attributes its construction to Udayamati, the queen of 11th-century Solanki king Bhima I, daughter of Chudasama King Khengara of Junagadh

4.Jim Corbett National Park….. GS-1,3

• CONTEXT:Prime Minister Narendra Modi will feature in a special episode of Discovery “Man vs Wild” which will highlight “issues related to environmental change”. According to a statement from the channel, the episode, featuring adventurer Bear Grylls and shot in the Jim Corbett National Park, will be a “frank and freewheeling journey” which will throw light on wildlife conservation.
• 
• SOURCE:DISCOVERY NETWORK

• Jim Corbett National Park:Jim Corbett National Park is the oldest national park in India and was established in 1936 as Hailey National Park to protect the endangered Bengal tiger. It is located in Nainital district of Uttarakhand and was named after Jim Corbett, a well known hunter and naturalist. The park was the first to come under the Project Tiger initiative.

• The park has sub-Himalayan belt geographical and ecological characteristics.An ecotourism destination, it contains 488 different species of plants and a diverse variety of fauna.The increase in tourist activities, among other problems, continues to present a serious challenge to the park's ecological balance.
• Corbett has been a haunt for tourists and wildlife lovers for a long time. Tourism activity is only allowed in selected areas of Corbett Tiger Reserve so that people get an opportunity to see its landscape and wildlife. In recent years the number of people coming here has increased dramatically. Presently, every season more than 70,000 visitors come to the park.
• Corbett National Park comprises 520.8 km2 (201.1 sq mi) area of hills, riverine belts, marshy depressions, grasslands and a large lake. The elevation ranges from 1,300 to 4,000 ft (400 to 1,220 m). Winter nights are cold but the days are bright and sunny. It rains from July to September.
• Dense moist deciduous forest mainly consists of sal, haldu, peepal, rohini and mango trees. Forest covers almost 73% of the park, 10% of the area consists of grasslands. It houses around 110 tree species, 50 species of mammals, 580 bird species and 25 reptile species.

5. WHAT IS GI TAG AND WHY IS IT IN THE NEWS?

• IT IS IN THE NEWS BECAUSE Odisha Rasagola receives geographical indication  (GI)tag.
• Odisha has received the geographical indication (GI) tag for its local version of the Rasgulla. Odisha that has also been claiming the sweet as its own, has received the GI tag for 'Odisha Rasagola'. The formal certification was issued by Chennai-based GI Registry on its website.
• geographical indication (GI) tag :  (GS-1)
• 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.

6. List of ‘iconic tourist sites’ may be reviewed

GS-1

• CONTEXT:The government’s plan to develop 17 ‘iconic tourist sites’ could see some changes, with Union Culture and Tourism Minister of State (independent charge) Prahlad Singh Patel ordering a review of the sites included in the project.
• In July 2018, then Tourism Minister K.J. Alphons had said 17 ‘iconic tourist sites’ would be developed. These were Taj Mahal and Fatehpur Sikri in Uttar Pradesh, Ajanta and Ellora caves in Maharashtra, Humayun’s Tomb, Red Fort and Qutub Minar in Delhi, Colva Beach in Goa, Amer Fort in Rajasthan, Somnath and Dholavira in Gujarat, Khajuraho in Madhya Pradesh, Hampi in Karnataka, Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, Kaziranga in Assam, Kumarakom in Kerala and Mahabodhi in Bihar.

7.Minorities panel draws its remit     GS-2

• CONTEXT: The National Commission of Minorities (NCM) has refused to entertain a plea to declare Hindus a “minority community” in those States where they do not form a majority of the population.
• National Commission of Minorities (NCM:
• Constitution of India doesn't define the word 'Minority' but has used the word minorities considering two attributes religion or language of a person. For minorities Constitution of India has envisaged a number of rights and safeguards. To provide enough equality and to dwindle the discrimination, makers have spelt out various things in Fundamental Rights (PartIII); Directive Principles of State policy (Part IV) and also the Fundamental Duties (Part IV-A). However, with rising right and rising wedge between right and left and also the ephemeral political aspirations of various political parties have diluted the discrimination safeguards.
• The Union Government set up the National Commission for Minorities (NCM) under the National Commission for Minorities Act, 1992. Six religious communities, viz; Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Zoroastrians (Parsis) and Jains(6) have been notified in Gazette of India as minority communities by the Union Government all over India .Original notification of 1993 was for Five religious communities Sikhs, Buddhists,Parsis,Christians and Muslims.

8.British warship arrives in Gulf to escort U.K.-flagged tankers             GS 1

• CONTEXT:U.K. rules out swapping seized oil tankers with Iran
• A British warship dispatched to the Gulf to escort U.K.-flagged ships amid heightened tensions with Iran has arrived in the region, the Defence Ministry said.
• IMPORTANT GEOGRAPHICAL REGIONS FROM THIS NEWS ITEM THAT WE CAN RELATE:
• PERSIAN GULF:
• The Persian Gulf is a mediterranean sea in Western Asia. The body of water is an extension of the Indian Ocean through the Strait of Hormuz and lies between Iran to the northeast and the Arabian Peninsula to the southwest. The Shatt al-Arab river delta forms the northwest shoreline
• GULF OF OMAN:
• The Gulf of Oman or Sea of Oman is a gulf that connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, which then runs to the Persian Gulf. It borders Iran and Pakistan on the north, Oman on the south, and the United Arab Emirates on the west.
• STRAIT OF HORMUZ:
• The Strait of Hormuz is a strait between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. It provides the only sea passage from the Persian Gulf to the open ocean and is one of the world's most strategically important choke points
• ARABIAN SEA:
• The Arabian Sea is a region of the northern Indian Ocean bounded on the north by Pakistan and Iran, on the west by the Gulf of Aden, Guardafui Channel and the Arabian Peninsula, on the southeast by the Laccadive Sea, on the southwest by the Somali Sea, and on the east by India

9.SEBI should handle proxy firms disputes

GS-3

• CONTEXT:A working group formed to look into issues related to proxy advisory firms has proposed that the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) should be the forum to handle disputes between such advisory firms and listed companies.
• WHAT ARE PROXY FRIMS?
• A proxy firm provides services to shareholders to vote their shares at shareholder meetings of, usually, quoted companies. The typical services provided include agenda translation, provision of vote management software, voting policy development, company research, and vote administration including vote execution
• ABOUT SEBI:
• Securities and exchange Board of India (SEBI) was first established in the year 1988 as a non-statutory body for regulating the securities market. It became an autonomous body by The Government of India on 12 May 1992 and given statutory powers in 1992 with SEBI Act 1992 being passed by the Indian Parliament. SEBI has its headquarters at the business district of Bandra Kurla Complex in Mumbai, and has Northern, Eastern, Southern and Western Regional Offices in New Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai and Ahmedabad respectively. It has opened local offices at Jaipur and Bangalore and is planning to open offices at Guwahati, Bhubaneshwar, Patna, Kochi and Chandigarh in Financial Year 2013 - 2014.

10.Govt clears 7 amendments to insolvency law; resolution plan binding on all               GS-2

• CONTEXT:Replying to the debate on the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said the changes were in response to events that eroded the legislative intent of the IBC.
• Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019:
• The Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2019 was introduced in Rajya Sabha by the Minister of Finance, Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman, on July 24, 2019. The Bill amends the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016.  The Code provides a time-bound process for resolving insolvency in companies and among individuals.  Insolvency is a situation where individuals or companies are unable to repay their outstanding debt.  
• Under the Code, a financial creditor may file an application before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) for initiating the insolvency resolution process. The NCLT must find the existence of default within 14 days.  Thereafter, a Committee of Creditors (CoC) consisting of financial creditors will be constituted for taking decisions regarding insolvency resolution.  The CoC may either decide to restructure the debtor’s debt by preparing a resolution plan or liquidate the debtor’s assets.
• The CoC will appoint a resolution professional who will present a resolution plan to the CoC. The CoC must approve a resolution plan, and the resolution process must be completed within 180 days.  This may be extended by a period of up to 90 days if the extension is approved by NCLT.   
• If the resolution plan is rejected by the CoC, the debtor will go into liquidation. The Code provides an order of priority for the distribution of assets in case of liquidation of the debtor.  This order places financial creditors ahead of operational creditors (e.g., suppliers).  In a 2018 Amendment, home-buyers who paid advances to a developer were to be considered as financial creditors.  They would be represented by an insolvency professional appointed by NCLT.   
• The Bill addresses three issues. First, it strengthens provisions related to time-limits.  Second, it specifies the minimum payouts to operational creditors in any resolution plan.  Third, it specifies the manner in which the representative of a group of financial creditors (such as home-buyers) should vote.  
• Resolution plan: The Code provides that the resolution plan must ensure that the operational creditors receive an amount which should not be lesser than the amount they would receive in case of liquidation.  The Bill amends this to provide that the amounts to be paid to the operational creditor should be the higher of: (i) amounts receivable under liquidation, and (ii) the amount receivable under a resolution plan, if such amounts were distributed under the same order of priority (as for liquidation).  For example, if the default were for Rs 1,000 crore and the resolution professional recovered Rs 800 crore, the operational creditor must at least get an amount which they would have received if Rs 800 crore have been obtained through liquidation proceeds.
• Further, the Bill states that this provision would also apply to insolvency processes: (i) that have not been approved or rejected by the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), (ii) that have been appealed to the National Company Appellate Tribunal or Supreme Court, and (iii) where legal proceedings have been initiated in any court against the decision of the NCLT.
• Initiation of resolution process: As per the Code, the NCLT must determine the existence of default within 14 days of receiving a resolution application.  Based on its finding, NCLT may accept or reject the application.  The Bill states that in case the NCLT does not find the existence of default and has not passed an order within 14 days, it must record its reasons in writing. 
• Time-limit for resolution process: The Code states that the insolvency resolution process must be completed within 180 days, extendable by a period of up to 90 days.  The Bill adds that the resolution process must be completed within 330 days.  This includes time for any extension granted and the time taken in legal proceedings in relation to the process.  On the enactment of the Bill, if any case is pending for over 330 days, the Bill states it must be resolved within 90 days.
• Representative of financial creditors: The Code specifies that, in certain cases, such as when the debt is owed to a class of creditors beyond a specified number, the financial creditors will be represented on the committee of creditors by an authorised representative.  These representatives will vote on behalf of the financial creditors as per instructions received from them.  The Bill states that such representative will vote on the basis of the decision taken by a majority of the voting share of the creditors that they represent.      

  

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DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS -29 JULY 2019- 10 MOST IMPORTANT TOPICS FROM THE HINDU

IMPORTANT TOPICS FOR TODAY 

                         http://dailycurrentaffairs-sumit.blogspot.com
                                            
BY SUMIT BHARDWAJ                                29 JULY 2019

PRELIMS+ MAINS =COURSE OF STUDY FROM  THE HINDU….

1.Karnataka Speaker disqualifies 14 more rebel MLAs till end of Assembly term  (GS-2)

• CONTEXT:Karnataka Assembly Speaker K.R. Ramesh Kumar said he has disqualified 14 more rebel MLAS - bringing the total of disqualified MLAs 17 - till the end of the Assembly term with immediate effect, a day ahead of the trust vote. This has reduced the strength of the House to 208.
• SPEAKER OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY,POWER AND FUNCTIONS:
• There is a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker for the state legislative assembly.
• Speaker is the Presiding Officer for State Legislative Assembly.
• The Speaker is elected by the assembly itself from amongst its members.
• Usually, the Speaker remains in office during the life of the State Legislative Assembly.
• However, he has to vacate his office earlier in any of the below 3 cases -
• 1. If he ceases to be a member of the assembly;
• 2. If he resigns by writing to the Deputy Speaker; and
• 3. If he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the members of the assembly. Such a resolution can be moved only after giving 14 days’ advance notice.
• His powers and functions are -
• 1. He maintains order and decorum in the House for conducting its business and regulating its proceedings. This is his main responsibility and he has final power in this regard.
• 2. He is the final interpreter of the provisions of -
• (a) the Constitution of India; 
• (b) the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business of Assembly; and
• (c) the parliamentary precedents, within the assembly.
• 3. He adjourns the assembly or suspends the meeting in absence of a quorum.
• 4. He does not vote in the first instance. But he can exercise a ‘casting vote’ in the case of a tie.
• 5. He can allow a ‘secret’ sitting of the House at the request of the Leader of the House.
• 6. He decides whether a bill is a money bill or not and his decision on this question is final.
• 7. He decides the questions of disqualification of a member of the assembly, arising on the ground of defection under the provisions of the Tenth Schedule.
• 8. He appoints the chairmen of all the committees of the assembly and supervises their functioning.
• 9. He himself is the chairman of the Business Advisory Committee, the Rules Committee and the General-Purpose Committee.
• Deputy Speaker of Assembly -
• Deputy Speaker is also elected by the assembly itself from amongst its members.
• He is elected after the election of the Speaker has taken place.
• Deputy Speaker remains in office usually during the life of the assembly.
• However, he also vacates his office earlier in any of the below 3 cases -
• (a) if he ceases to be a member of the assembly;
• (b) if he resigns by writing to the speaker; and
• (c) if he is removed by a resolution passed by a majority of all the then members of the assembly. Such a resolution can be moved only after giving 14 days’ advance notice.
• The Deputy Speaker performs the duties of the Speaker’s office when it is vacant or when Speaker is absent from the sitting of assembly.
• He has all the powers of the Speaker.
• The Speaker nominates from amongst the members a panel of chairmen.
• Any one of them can preside over the assembly in the absence of the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker.
• He has the same powers as the speaker when presiding.
• He holds office until a new panel of chairmen is nominated.

2.India must convince industry of RCEP’s benefits: Australia     (GS-3)

• CONTEXT:Australia is leading diplomats from various countries involved in the negotiations for the 15-member Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) free trade agreement to convince India to commit to the deal by the end of the year. According to High Commissioner to India Harinder Sidhu, while there is “political will” that goes “right to the top” within the Indian government to go ahead with the FTA, the government’s task is to ensure Indian industry will support the decision.
• Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP):
• The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) is a proposed free trade agreement (FTA) between the ten member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) and the six indo-Pacific states with which ASEAN has existing free trade agreements (China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia and New Zealand).
• RCEP negotiations were formally launched in November 2012 at the ASEAN Summit in Cambodia.
• In 2017, prospective RCEP member states accounted for a population of 3.4 billion people with a total Gross Domestic Product (GDP, PPP) of $49.5 trillion, approximately 39 percent of the world's GDP, with the combined GDPs of China and India making up more than half that amount.
• RCEP is the world's largest economic bloc, covering nearly half of the global economy. According to estimates by PwC, the Gross Domestic Product (GDP, PPP) of RCEP member states is likely to amount to nearly $250 trillion by 2050, or a quarter of a quadrillion dollars, with the combined GDPs of China and India making up more than 75% of the amount. RCEP's share of the global economy could account for half of the estimated $0.5 quadrillion global (GDP, PPP) by 2050.
• Free trade agreement (FTA) :A free trade agreement (FTA) or treaty is a multinational agreement according to international law to form a free-trade area between the cooperating states. FTAs, a form of trade pacts, determine the tariffs and duties that countries impose on imports and exports with the goal of reducing or eliminating trade barriers, thus affecting international trade. Such agreements usually "center on a chapter providing for preferential tariff treatment", but they also often "include clauses on trade facilitation and rule-making in areas such as investment, intellectual property, government procurement, technical standards and sanitary and phytosanitary issues

3.Railways looking at complete redesign of all future coaches              GS-3

• CONTEXT:The Ministry of Railways is looking at a complete redesign of coaches and even procurement of full train rakes from foreign suppliers, provided they set up their facility here to comply with the ‘Make in India’ policy.
• The move comes amid the Centre’s plans to corporatise production units like the Integral Coach Factory in Chennai, which is the largest coach making facility in the world, Modern Coach Factory in Raebareli, and Rail Coach Factory in Kapurthala.
• Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO):
• The Research Designs & Standards Organisation (RDSO), Hindi: अनुसंधान अभिकल्प एवं मानक संगठन) is an ISO 9001 research and development organisation under the Ministry of Railways of India, which functions as a technical adviser and consultant to the Railway Board, the Zonal Railways, the Railway Production Units, RITES and IRCON International in respect of design and standardization of railway equipment and problems related to railway construction, operation and maintenance

4.Bumpy road for colistin ban rollout     GS-3

• CONTEXT:Implementation of colistin ban will face many a hurdle at the ground-level in State
• Colistin:Colistin, also known as polymyxin E, is an antibiotic produced by certain strains of the bacteria Paenibacillus polymyxa. Colistin is a mixture of the cyclic polypeptides colistin A and B and belongs to the class of polypeptide antibiotics known as polymyxins. Colistin is effective against most Gram-negative bacilli….Major & minor side effects for Colistin
• Burning or tingling sensation of hands and feet.
• Visual disturbances.
• Stomach discomfort and cramps.
• Nausea or Vomiting.
• Weakness of arms, hands, legs or feet.
• Severe difficulty in breathing.
• Confusion.
• Blood in urine and stools.
  
  

SOURCE:THE HINDU

5.Himalayan states demand green bonus, separate ministry                        GS-1,3

• CONTEXT:Himalayan States on Sunday came together at a conclave here(UTRAKHAND) to demand a separate Ministry to deal with problems endemic to them and a green bonus in recognition of their contribution to environment conservation.
• Ten out of 11 States took part at a conclave to take a unanimous stand on the issues.
• ABOUT HIMALYAN STATES IN INDIA:
• The Indian Himalayan Region (IHR) is the section of the Himalayas within India, spanning 11 Indian states (administrative regions) namely, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh and West Bengal of Indian Republic. The region is responsible for providing water to a large part of the Indian subcontinent and contains various flora and fauna.
• The IHR physiographically, starting from the foothills of south (Shivaliks), this mountain range extends up to Tibetan plateau on the north (Trans-Himalaya). Three major geographical entities, the Himadri (greater Himalaya), Himanchal (lesser Himalaya) and the Siwaliks (outer Himalaya) extending almost uninterrupted throughout its length, are separated by major geological fault lines. Mighty but older streams like the Indus, Sutlej, Kali, Kosi and Brahmaputra have cut through steep gorges to escape into the Great Plains and have established their antecedence.

6.Army’s first Integrated Battle Groups to be structured by end of next month       GS-2

• CONTEXT:The new concept of Integrated Battle Groups (IBGs) which the Army plans to create as part of overall force transformation is close to implementation, a senior Army source said. IBGs are brigade-sized, agile, self-sufficient combat formations, which can swiftly launch strikes against adversary in case of hostilities.
• 
  

SOURCE:THE HINDU

7.Conflicting views pervade BRICS Ministers’ meeting                           GS-1,2

• CONTEXT:Fight against terrorism, cooperation in areas of economy and people-to-people exchanges emerged as prominent themes in the one-day meet, the BRICS Foreign Ministers’ gathering on Friday could not have started on a more discordant note.
• BRICS:BRICS is the acronym coined for an association of five major emerging national economies: Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Originally the first four were grouped as "BRIC" (or "the BRICs"), before the induction of South Africa in 2010.The BRICS members are known for their significant influence on regional affairs; all are members of G20.Since 2009, the BRICS nations have met annually at formal summits. China hosted the 9th BRICS summit in Xiamen on September 2017, while South Africa hosted the most recent 10th BRICS summit in July 2018. The term does not include countries such as South Korea, Mexico and Turkey for which other acronyms and group associations were later created.

8.It’s time for India and Pakistan to walk the talk      GS-2

• ACCORDING TO THE WRITER  ….Given the various breaches, the Simla Agreement could do with a makeover.
• The Simla Agreement may be somewhat overrated. It could even be dead though we keep referring to it as a guiding light and take shelter behind it. Signed on July 2, 1972, by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Pakistan President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, the Agreement has been observed mainly in its breach. It commits the two countries to “put an end to the conflict and confrontation that have hitherto marred their relations and work for the promotion of a friendly and harmonious relationship and the establishment of durable peace in the sub-continent
• The Simla Agreement :
• The Simla Agreement, or Shimla Agreement, was signed between India and Pakistan on 2 July 1972 in Shimla, the capital city of the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. It followed from the Bangladesh Liberation war in 1971 that led to the independence of Bangladesh, which was earlier known as East Pakistan and was part of the territory of Pakistan. India entered the war as an ally of Bangladesh which transformed the war into an Indo-Pakistani War of 1971. The agreement was ratified by the Parliaments of both the nations in same year.
• The agreement was the result of resolve of both the countries to "put an end to the conflict and confrontation that have hitherto marred their relations". It conceived the steps to be taken for further normalisation of mutual relations and it also laid down the principles that should govern their future relations/

9.Governing India through fiscal math               GS-3

• ACCORDING TO THE WRITER:A focus on fiscal deficit reduction alone is not sound economic management. The revenue deficit must be in the picture
• a concern for the size of the fiscal deficit would have been inevitable since the enactment of the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Bill in 2003, and has therefore been on the radar of political parties of all persuasions at the Centre, it has been raised to special significance since 2014. It figured in the most recent Economic Survey, and its anticipated magnitude for 2019-20 was the final statement in the Budget speech that had followed
• ABOUT FISCAL DEFICIT:
• What is meant by fiscal deficit?
• A fiscal deficit occurs when a government's total expenditures exceed the revenue that it generates, excluding money from borrowings. Deficit differs from debt, which is an accumulation of yearly deficits. ... For example, economist John Maynard Keynes believed that deficits help countries climb out of economic recession.
• What happens when fiscal deficit?
• Fiscal Deficit increases the money supply in the economy as government borrowings increases. ... Inflation occurs due to an imbalance between demand and supply of money, changes in production and distribution cost or increase in taxes on products.
• What causes fiscal deficit?
• A government budget deficit occurs when government spending outpaces revenue. Deficits are also caused from a decline in revenue due to an economic contraction such as a recession or depression. ... The United States government has a long history of deficit spending.
• ABOUT REVENUE DEFECIT:
• A revenue deficit occurs when realized net income is less than the projected net income. This happens when the actual amount of revenue and/or the actual amount of expenditures do not correspond with budgeted revenue and expenditures
• What is difference between revenue deficit and fiscal deficit?
• Fiscal deficit acts as an indicator of the total borrowings needed by the government. Revenue deficit arises when the government's actual net receipts are lower than the expected receipts. ... Government tries to increase its receipts from various sources of tax and non-tax revenue to control revenue deficit.

10.Hong Kong protesters rally to Beijing office

GS-2

CONTEXT:The Hong Kong police clashed with thousands of protesters on Sunday, as they sought to defend China’s main representative of­ fi??ce from crowds seething over what many see as an increasing cycle of violence against them.
ABOUT HONG KONG PROTEST:



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