9 PM Current Affairs Brief – December 14, 2018

The political roots of falling wage growth News: Latest Global Wage Report of International Labour Organization’s (ILO) finds that, wages grew at an annual rate of just 1.1% in 2017, down from 1.8% in 2016. Important Facts: Major Finding of the reports: Lowest wage growth globally in 2017 since 2008 Global wage growth in 2017… Continue reading The political roots of falling wage growth

View: India’s Kartarpur headache News: Article discuss about the controversy surrounding the Kartarpur corridor. Important Analysis Background of Kartarpur Corridor: Guru Nanak, who founded Sikhism, used to live in this area. He died in 1539 and a shrine was built in his memory. This shrine is their holiest site, and visiting it is considered a… Continue reading View: India’s Kartarpur headache

India, Russia discuss measures to boost joint production in defence News: India and Russia agreed to extend bilateral cooperation on defence joint-venture (JV) manufacturing projects at meeting of the India-Russia Governmental Commission on Military Technical Cooperation (IRIGC-MTC). Important Facts: Both the countries in IRIGC-MTC meeting discussed a wide range of issues relating to defence equipment,… Continue reading India, Russia discuss measures to boost joint production in defence

Is it time to abolish the death penalty News: The Supreme Court Thursday dismissed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking direction on the immediate execution of four death row convicts in the December 16 gang rape and murder case. Important Analysis: The Supreme Court in 2018 had upheld its verdict of awarding the death penalty… Continue reading Is it time to abolish the death penalty

Telecom tribunal sets aside TRAI’s predatory pricing rule  News: The Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has rejected Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s (TRAI) rule on Predatory Pricing. Important facts: What is Predatory Pricing? Predatory Pricing is the practice of a firm selling a product at very low price with the intention of driving competitors out of… Continue reading Telecom tribunal sets aside TRAI’s predatory pricing rule 

How side pocketing affects mutual fund houses, investors News: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has allowed mutual fund schemes the option of ‘side-pocketing’ which will help both fund houses and investors. Important facts: What is side pocketing? It is an accounting method used for segregating bad or illiquid assets from the healthier or… Continue reading How side pocketing affects mutual fund houses, investors

Come June, industries must pay for using groundwater News: The Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA) has introduced a water conservation fee (WCF) for the first in the recently notified Revised Guidelines for Ground Water Extraction. Central Ground Water Authority (CGWA): It has been constituted under the Environment (Protection) Act of 1986 It has been mandated… Continue reading Come June, industries must pay for using groundwater

Once big polluter, Badarpur plant to get eco-park revamp News The Badarpur Thermal Power Station (BTPS) is set to be converted to an ecological park Important Facts: The ecological park will be built on 884.64 acres of fly ash pond within the premises of the thermal power station. The park is expected to be one… Continue reading Once big polluter, Badarpur plant to get eco-park revamp

Scientists clone hybrid rice seeds in breakthrough that could cut costs for farmers News: According to research published in the journal Nature, scientists in the US and France have successfully created a hybrid variety of Rice Japonica so that some plants produce cloned seeds. Important Facts What are hybrid seeds? A hybrid seed is created by crossing… Continue reading Scientists clone hybrid rice seeds in breakthrough that could cut costs for farmers