9 PM Current Affairs Brief – 16th December, 2017

High growth doesn’t necessarily mean high inequality: Chancel: Context Bottom 50% in India has little access to quality education, health or transport. World Inequality Lab Inequality in India has accelerated in the recent decades, says Lucas Chancel, co-director, World Inequality Lab and of WID.world at the Paris School of Economics There is another way He also… Continue reading High growth doesn’t necessarily mean high inequality: Chancel:

Feed the cure: On paying TB patients  Context Giving TB patients money for an enhanced diet is a good step — but oversight is crucial What The Central TB Division has said the government would hand over a sum of ₹500 a month to each of India’s 35 lakh diagnosed TB patients in order to… Continue reading Feed the cure: On paying TB patients 

Make offices accessible to disabled: SC: Context The Supreme Court on Friday upheld the right to dignity of the disabled while directing that government buildings providing public services should be made fully accessible to differently-abled persons by June 2019. Timeline specified Giving a slew of directions in an 87-page judgment, A Bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and… Continue reading Make offices accessible to disabled: SC:

Karnataka HC strikes down rule on stringent tobacco pack warnings: Context The Karnataka High Court on Friday declared the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products (Packaging and Labelling) Amendment Rules, 2014 as unconstitutional ‘2014 rules on graphics unconstitutional’ Cigarette companies have partially won a legal battle against the Union government, as the Karnataka High Court on Friday declared as unconstitutional the Cigarette and other Tobacco Products… Continue reading Karnataka HC strikes down rule on stringent tobacco pack warnings:

SC rejects plea to verify 25% of VVPAT: Context A three-judge Bench refused to entertain the plea, saying that the judiciary cannot question the discretion of the EC. Backdrop An “11th hour” plea by Secretary, Gujarat Pradesh Congress, to direct the Election Commission of India to count and cross-verify at least 25% of Voter Verified Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) paper trail with… Continue reading SC rejects plea to verify 25% of VVPAT:

Cabinet nod for Bill making instant triple talaq a crime Context The Union Cabinet on Friday approved a Bill that makes instant triple talaq or talaq-e-biddat a criminal offence and a Muslim husband resorting to instant talaq can be jailed for up to three years. This Bill will adjudicate all cases of instant triple talaq across the country except Jammu and Kashmir. The government intends to… Continue reading Cabinet nod for Bill making instant triple talaq a crime

‘We expect Indian aid on Rohingya issue’ Context Delhi needs to play “a similar diplomatic role” to resolve the Rohingya crisis. Bangladesh seeks UN resolution Commending India’s role in the 1971 war with Pakistan to liberate Bangladesh, a senior Bangladesh Minister said here on Friday that Delhi needs to play “a similar diplomatic role” to resolve the Rohingya crisis. India should pressurise… Continue reading ‘We expect Indian aid on Rohingya issue’

Sri Lanka urged to repeal Prevention of Terror Act: Context Reiterating a long-pending demand from human rights activists and some politicians in Sri Lanka visiting UN experts on Friday urged the government to repeal the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA). UN experts say the act is an enabler of arbitrary detention Following a 10-day visit to the… Continue reading Sri Lanka urged to repeal Prevention of Terror Act:

India should secure infrastructure against cyberthreats: Context India needs to worry about terror groups attacking critical infrastructure such as power plants, telecom and banking systems. Kaspersky Like every other country, securing critical infrastructure is most important: power plants, power grids, water supplies and transportation. Kaspersky work regularly with the Indian government and signed an MoU with the CERT (Computer Emergency… Continue reading India should secure infrastructure against cyberthreats:

NGT once again bans plastic use in Haridwar, Rishikesh to save Ganga:   Context The National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Friday imposed a ban on plastic items, including plastic bags and cutlery, in Haridwar and Rishikesh. Green panel imposes ₹5,000 fine on violators Further, the bench headed by NGT chairperson Swatanter Kumar banned the sale, manufacture and storage of all such plastic items, till Uttarkashi.… Continue reading NGT once again bans plastic use in Haridwar, Rishikesh to save Ganga:  

Slowdown bottoming out, says RBI’s Patel: Context Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel said with growth picking up in the second quarter of the current financial year, the economic slowdown may have bottomed out. ‘Financial markets have shown resilience, stability amid heightened volatility’ Official data released this month, showed gross domestic product (GDP) in the July-September quarter expanded… Continue reading Slowdown bottoming out, says RBI’s Patel:

EU leaders agree to move Brexit talks to next phase : Context EU said it would give the green light for Brexit talks to move to the crucial phase 2. Backdrop Two days after parliamentarians inflicted a major legislative defeat on the British government, Prime Minister Theresa May won a domestic political reprieve, as the EU said it would give the green light for… Continue reading EU leaders agree to move Brexit talks to next phase :

Govt. to return MDR to banks to boost digital: Context The Centre said it would reimburse the merchant discount rate (MDR) applicable on digital transactions up to ₹2,000 for the next two years to give a fillip to digital payments in the country. To cover transactions of up to ₹2,000 This will be applicable on transactions done using debit cards, UPI BHIM… Continue reading Govt. to return MDR to banks to boost digital:

Centre raises duty on electronic items Context The Centre has increased customs duty on several electronic items including televisions, mobile phones and microwaves, making the import of these goods more expensive and thus lending a fillip (something which acts as a stimulus or boost to an activity) to its ‘Make in India’ programme. Steps taken The custom duty on push… Continue reading Centre raises duty on electronic items

Changed priorities  Context The government’s move will shift attention away from recovery of bad loans to selling assets of defaulting corporates The Irony The 2017 Forbes India List says that the combined net worth of India’s 100 wealthiest stood at a whopping $479 billion, top corporate borrower groups in India are unable to repay loans and make… Continue reading Changed priorities