9 PM Current Affairs Brief – January 13, 2018

Passports will not carry address, parents’ names  Context Orange jacket for ‘emigration check required’ passports What The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday announced that new passports will soon be printed without the names of parents and the home address of the applicant Earlier declaration The statement came even as it was declared that the… Continue reading Passports will not carry address, parents’ names 

Odisha seeks GI tag for Kandhamal turmeric  Context The golden yellow spice is known for its medicinal value What The Odisha government has applied for a GI tag on Kandhamal haladi (turmeric variety). Medicinal Value The golden yellow spice, named after the district where it is produced, has been cultivated since time immemorial and is… Continue reading Odisha seeks GI tag for Kandhamal turmeric 

Just 4.9% of higher edu teachers are Muslim  Context Recently released All India Survey on Higher Education for 2016-17 Survey results Lower Muslim representation: At 4.9%, Muslim representation among teachers in higher educational institutions in India is much lower than the community’s proportion in India’s population (14.2%) The representation of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled… Continue reading Just 4.9% of higher edu teachers are Muslim 

Four SC judges air differences with CJI Misra  Context Press conference organised by 4 senior judges of Supreme Court on difference over CJI What has happened? Four senior judges of the Supreme Court held a press conference and publicly accused Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra of selectively assigning cases to judges of his choice… Continue reading Four SC judges air differences with CJI Misra 

Ties with India intact, says Israeli Ambassador  Context India-Israel bilateral relations-Israeli PM Netanyahu’s upcoming visit to New Delhi What has happened? Israel on Friday said that India’s vote at the United Nations General Assembly against the American recognition of Jerusalem as its capital would not affect its ties with India No effect on UNGN vote… Continue reading Ties with India intact, says Israeli Ambassador 

New U.S. sanctions won’t hit Chabahar port project, says Iran  Context Iran rejects worries over impact of new US sanctions on Chahbahar project No effect on Chahbahar project Striking a defiant note over possible new sanctions against Tehran, Iran’s Transport Minister Abbas Akhoundi has said the move will “isolate” the U.S., and rejected any worries… Continue reading New U.S. sanctions won’t hit Chabahar port project, says Iran 

India makes push for U.K. immigration reform Context Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu and Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju’s visit to UK Issues stressed Review of immigration policies relating to India, including on student visas and the extension of a visa system introduced for Chinese visitors to the U.K. Introduction of a two-year… Continue reading India makes push for U.K. immigration reform

Rights in the age of big data  Context Data protection legislation should be about protecting people, not innovation Many concerns Concerns are being voiced this month in several Indian cities by members of the public, civil society groups, academic experts and technologists, think tanks, industry associations and technology companies to a committee headed by Justice… Continue reading Rights in the age of big data 

ISRO workhorse PSLV-C40 puts 31 satellites in space  Context Focus on building capacity to meet country’s needs What The 42nd Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV), PSLV-C40, was launched successfully on Friday by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from the First Launch Pad of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC) in Sriharikota and it placed… Continue reading ISRO workhorse PSLV-C40 puts 31 satellites in space 

Inflation quickens to 5.21% on food costs  Context December retail inflation hits 17-month high What Inflation as measured by the Consumer Price Index accelerated to a 17-month high of 5.21% in December, from November’s 4.88% as food, housing and fuel costs continued to strengthen. RBI Response Economists said quickening retail inflation would likely lead the… Continue reading Inflation quickens to 5.21% on food costs 

Industrial output expands 8.4%, pace at 25-month high  Context Strong performances in manufacturing, construction, and consumer non-durables sectors and government spending help spur November IIP What Industrial output growth quickened in November to a 25-month high of 8.4% bolstered by strong performances in the manufacturing, construction, and consumer non-durables sectors, official data show CPI for… Continue reading Industrial output expands 8.4%, pace at 25-month high