9 PM Current Affairs Brief – January 11, 2018

Prescription for the future Context The National Medical Commission Bill has to be fine-tuned, especially in planning for rural health care The National Medical Commission Bill has to be fine-tuned, especially in planning for rural health care The National Medical Commission Bill, aimed at reforming Indian medical education and practice, is in trouble. After countrywide protests by… Continue reading Prescription for the future

Not a criminal act  Context Marriage is a civil contract — adultery or divorce should have only civil consequences Offence of theft and adultery similar There are striking similarities between the offence of ‘theft’ and ‘adultery’ under the Indian Penal Code. Encyclopedia of Diderot &d’Alembert, Vol. 1 (1751) also equated adultery with theft: “adultery is, after… Continue reading Not a criminal act 

Not by diktat alone Context Supreme Court does right to make playing of the national anthem before a film optional Removed Coercive element By making it optional for cinema halls to play the national anthem before every show, the Supreme Court has at last removed the coercive element it had unfortunately introduced by an interim order in… Continue reading Not by diktat alone

BCI notice to MPs MLAs on legal practice Context The Bar Council of India, the country’s apex lawyers’ body, on Wednesday asked Members of Parliament and State Assembly legislators, who double up as advocates, to respond on why they should not be banned  from legal practice. BCI notice to MPs, MLAs on legal practice An… Continue reading BCI notice to MPs MLAs on legal practice

China to fund base in Afghanistan Context China will fund construction of an Afghan counterterrorism base in Badakshan province to block cross-border infiltration of the ethnic Uyghur militants Counterterrosrim base in Badakshan to check cross-border infiltration Fergana News Agency (FNA) has quoted Gen. Dawlat Waziri of the Afghan Defence Ministry as saying that China will… Continue reading China to fund base in Afghanistan

A difficult year  Context Besides the Rohingya crisis, Myanmar is under scrutiny on press freedoms and the Panglong peace process Crucial 2018 for Myanmar The year 2017 did not proceed favourably for either the civilian government or the military establishment, which continues to hold considerable power over state institutions. International attention to the following issues:… Continue reading A difficult year 

Visa heartache Context The United States’ H-1B visa has for decades been a source of nail-biting tension in India. The latest case in point was a scare that President Donald Trump’s administration was toying with the idea of new regulations that would restrict extension of the visa by those awaiting a green card Fears of… Continue reading Visa heartache

A pioneer in biotechnology  Context Nobel Laureate HarGobind Khorana’s contributions to biology are of contemporary relevance for some of the most exciting areas such as synthetic biology and gene editing. A Google Doodle on Tuesday to mark the 96th birth anniversary of the Indian-origin American scientist this week stoked much interest in his work. HarGobind… Continue reading A pioneer in biotechnology 

PSLV all set to ferry 31 satellites tomorrow Context The PSLV rocket, after a shocking falter four months ago, will return to the launch pad at Sriharikota on Friday Cartosat-2F aimed at surveillance will be main payload. The PSLV rocket, after a shocking falter four months ago, will return to the launch pad at Sriharikota… Continue reading PSLV all set to ferry 31 satellites tomorrow

AP readies cosy nets for Olive Ridleys Context The Andhra Pradesh Wildlife authorities have prepared the ground for a safe nesting season for Olive Ridley turtles along the 970-km coastline from the Srikakulam district to the Nellore district Rookeries are being set up along the coastline; 88,500 eggs conserved in Krishna alone in 2017 An… Continue reading AP readies cosy nets for Olive Ridleys

Gujarat to count elusive tigers Context Census to be held 33 years after a big cat was spotted. In Dang District of Gujarat The counting exercise in Dang will be part of the nationwide tiger census. Gujarat, which houses a rich population of lions, will now see an exercise to find out if tigers also… Continue reading Gujarat to count elusive tigers

Maritime focus for India, ASEAN Context The ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit of January 25 is likely to focus on maritime security for the region, a senior ASEAN diplomat said on Wednesday Major issues: Maritime Security and Connectivity Ambassador of Thailand Chutintorn Sam Gongsakdi said that ASEAN expects India to highlight maritime security during the summit, even… Continue reading Maritime focus for India, ASEAN

World Bank projects 7.3 % growth in 2018 Context 2018 Global Economics Prospect released by the World Bank Observations made wrt India India’s growth rate in 2018 is projected to hit 7.3% and 7.5% in the next two years, according to the World Bank, which said the country has “enormous growth potential” compared to other… Continue reading World Bank projects 7.3 % growth in 2018

Centre opens arms to single brand retail FDI Context The Union government on Wednesday liberalised and simplified the Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) regime in a host of sectors, including Single Brand Retail Trading (SBRT) What has happened? The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave its approval to a proposal permitting 100% FDI under the automatic route… Continue reading Centre opens arms to single brand retail FDI

How will homeless get Aadhaar Context The Supreme Court on Wednesday questioned the government’s version of Aadhaar as a unique identifier which will benefit the poor to access welfare services, asking how the lakhs of homeless people in the country will get an Aadhaar card without a permanent address State of homelessness in India The… Continue reading How will homeless get Aadhaar

PM, economists take stock of economy Context In a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, top economists and experts in the country stressed the need for creating new jobs, even as a NITI Aayog task force has found that the statistics on lack of employment may be “overrated”. The data will be released… Continue reading PM, economists take stock of economy

7 years’ jail for benami transactions Context The Income-Tax Department on Wednesday warned people to “keep away” from benami transactions, cautioning that violations under the newly enacted law invites criminal prosecution and rigorous imprisonment up to seven years Rigorous punitive measures Benamidar [in whose name benami property is standing], beneficiary [who actually paid consideration] and… Continue reading 7 years’ jail for benami transactions

Two tier shield for Aadhaar data Context In the wake of reports of an alleged breach of the Aadhaar database published in a newspaper last week, the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) has rolled out a new two-tier security process that will come into effect from June 1 What has been done? Aimed at… Continue reading Two tier shield for Aadhaar data

The map of rural deprivation  Context With the Union Budget to be presented on February 1, it is hoped that the Finance Minister will make a significantly higher allocation for investment in infrastructure. It is vital for addressing rural distress. The Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC) informed us that ‘landlessness and dependence on manual… Continue reading The map of rural deprivation 

In FDI push centre allows 49% foreign ownership in AI Context In FDI push, Centre allows 49% foreign ownership in AI. Easing of norms puts national carrier on par with other Indian airline companies In FDI push, Centre allows 49% foreign ownership in AI The Congress says foreign carriers cannot be allowed to take over Air India.… Continue reading In FDI push centre allows 49% foreign ownership in AI