9 PM Current Affairs Brief – 12th December, 2017

Powering rural healthcare  Context Around 38 million Indians rely on health facilities without electricity. Without access to regular power supply, numerous life-saving interventions cannot be undertaken What has happened? A study, ‘Powering Primary Healthcare through Solar in India: Lessons from Chhattisgarh’, published recently by the Council on Energy, Environment and Water (CEEW) and supported by Oxfam India… Continue reading Powering rural healthcare 

Max, Fortis effect: IMA for self-regulation for doctors Context No hospital can force its consultants to work on targets and the choice of drugs and devices should rest with the doctors based on the affordability of a patient and not the hospital management What has happened? The Indian Medical Association has urged State governments to… Continue reading Max, Fortis effect: IMA for self-regulation for doctors

WTO: India hardens stand on e-commerce Context No to negotiations on binding rules in e-commerce; terms ‘investment facilitation and proposed norms on small firms’ as non-trade issues. What happened? India has hardened its position at the World Trade Organisation’s (WTO) meeting here not only on issues relating to e-commerce, but also against investment facilitation as… Continue reading WTO: India hardens stand on e-commerce

FRDI: ‘Depositors will be protected’ Context Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has categorically asserted that depositors would be “fully protected” in the event of a bank failure. Backdrop: Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill 2017 is before the Joint Committee of Parliament Mounting concerns about a proposed ‘bail-in’ clause in a draft legislation on financial resolution bail-in’ clause, which allows for the cancellation or modification of bank deposits to shore up… Continue reading FRDI: ‘Depositors will be protected’

No WTO deal without food security: India Context India has said it cannot envisage any negotiated outcome, at the ongoing meeting of the World Trade Organisation’s apex decision-making body, which does not include successful resolution of the food security right issue. Only Unconditional Solution acceptable India has already made it clear that it will not accept a ‘permanent solution’ with… Continue reading No WTO deal without food security: India

Need all-out push on terror: RIC Context Agreeing to uphold the rule of law in international affairs, Russia, India and China commended the victory of the Moscow-led counter-terrorism operation in Syria. Syrian-led, Syrian-owned After the 15th trilateral meeting of the three Foreign Ministers held here under the RIC grouping, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and… Continue reading Need all-out push on terror: RIC

In an elite club: On India’s Wassenaar entry Context India’s admittance into the Wassenaar Arrangement, a multilateral export control regime, as its 42nd participating member is a big step forward in its quest for formal acceptance as a responsible nuclear power. Fact This has come a year after India made the request for membership Wassenaar… Continue reading In an elite club: On India’s Wassenaar entry

The power play in peacekeeping Context Though Indian troops have led the way, the returns in UN power play have been low. The contrast with China is stark No Media Coverage to UN Peacekeeping Operations Media coverage of peacekeeping operations is an area with many gaps Recent Incidence Consider for example, an incident last week,… Continue reading The power play in peacekeeping

Govt. sets up NIC-CERT centre to detect, prevent cyberattacks What has happened? The Centre on Monday unveiled the NIC-CERT centre that would monitor and help in early detection and mitigation of cyber-attacks on government networks NIC network All communications between government departments — Centre, State and district, as well as interactions between the government and… Continue reading Govt. sets up NIC-CERT centre to detect, prevent cyberattacks

Manipur beefs up security along border: Context Following directives from the Union Home Ministry, the Manipur government has beefed up security measures along border areas to check infiltration of illegal migrants from Bangladesh and the Rohingya from Myanmar New police stations Manipur government have opened a police station at Kotha, near the Manipur-Myanmar border New police stations have been… Continue reading Manipur beefs up security along border:

ISRO developing a compact launcher for small satellites Context A low-cost small satellite launcher could be the next item on the menu of the Indian Space Research Organisation What has been done? ISRO could soon have a low cost small satellite launcher which will be able to put satellites of up to 500-600 kg in orbits close to the Earth Benefits… Continue reading ISRO developing a compact launcher for small satellites

For clean air, India needs a policy leap  Context The way to curb pollution is to tax carbon. Only then will households look for greener substitutes Implication of air pollution Author mentions about two studies that indicate the implications of air pollution Lancet study: A report of the Lancet Commission on pollution and health states that around 19 lakh people die… Continue reading For clean air, India needs a policy leap 

Endosulfan: SC issues notice to Kerala govt.: Context SC’s notice on a petition filed by Endosulfan victims What has happened? The Supreme Court has issued notice on a contempt of court petition filed by Endosulfan victims of Kerala for not complying with a January 2017 order of the court to disburse the entire compensation to… Continue reading Endosulfan: SC issues notice to Kerala govt.:

Modified kiln a boon for bangle makers in Rajasthan  Context Technology has come to the aid of workers engaged in manufacturing of green bangles in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan Freed them from toxic fumes causing respiratory diseases The installation of a modified bangle kiln in Unch village, near Nadbai, has rescued them from toxic fumes… Continue reading Modified kiln a boon for bangle makers in Rajasthan 

Nagaland’s tourism showpiece attracts record visitors Context The Hornbill Festival of Nagaland attracted a record 2,43,214 visitors this year, a sharp climb compared to the previous years, a government official said. 10 days of festivities The 10-day festival, which is the annual showpiece tourism event of the State, was inaugurated on December 1 — coinciding with the… Continue reading Nagaland’s tourism showpiece attracts record visitors