9 PM Current Affairs Brief – January 16, 2018

No clarity on probe into clinical trial violations Context Nearly seven years after the Indian drug regulator, the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) began investigating nine Andhra-based clinical research organisations (CROs) over allegations of coercing people into joining clinical trials, it has refused to share its findings under the Right to Information (RTI) Act… Continue reading No clarity on probe into clinical trial violations

Operation Digital Board in the offing  Context The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE) on Monday passed a resolution to take steps towards Operation Digital Board on the lines of Operation Blackboard of 1987, which was started with the purpose of providing minimum basic facilities to all primary schools Operation Digital Board Idea behind it:… Continue reading Operation Digital Board in the offing 

Still a raw deal for many Context World Social Protection Report 2017-19 Report is released by: International Labour Organization Major findings of the report No security: A vast majority of people (4 billion) live without any safeguard against the normal contingencies of life, according to the study Access to only on social protection benefit: Less… Continue reading Still a raw deal for many

Was purandara Dasa born in a Malnad village? Context There is much speculation about where Purandara Dasa, regarded as the pitamaha of Carnatic music, was born. Now, an expert committee constituted by Kannada University, Hampi, has come to the conclusion that it was most likely a small village called Kshemapura (now called Keshavapura) at Araga hobli in… Continue reading Was purandara Dasa born in a Malnad village?

Tackling government litigation  Context It is trite (lacking originality or freshness) to say that the government is the biggest litigant in India. No less than the Prime Minister and the Chief Justice of India have acknowledged this in the recent past, goading (provoke or annoy (someone) so as to stimulate an action or reaction.) the… Continue reading Tackling government litigation 

Restoring order in the court  Context All the judges of the Supreme Court should sort out their differences internally and amicably What The darkest day in the history of the judiciary in independent India is January 12, 2018. On this day, in an unprecedented move, the four senior-most judges of the Supreme Court — Justices J.… Continue reading Restoring order in the court 

AIIMS doctors challenge Nadda to open debate Context Continuing its opposition to the  National Medical Commisssion (NMC) Bill,the Resident Doctors Association of AIIMS on Monday invited Union Health Minister J. P. Nadda for an open debate on the issue. Call for discussion Contending that the NMC bill is serious enough to distort the future of medical education in the… Continue reading AIIMS doctors challenge Nadda to open debate

Differences with Chief Justice not yet resolved Context Suggestions that the differences between the four Supreme Court judges and Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra had been resolved at the daily tea meeting before the hearings in the court began on Monday, were scotched (Decisively put an end to) by sources close to the four… Continue reading Differences with Chief Justice not yet resolved

Chinese Navy submarine in disputed isles  Context Japan said on Monday that a Chinese naval submarine spotted in waters off flashpoint islands in the East China Sea was one of its new type of nuclear-powered attack vessels China’s reaction China said that three of its “Coast Guard vessels conducted a patrol in waters off the… Continue reading Chinese Navy submarine in disputed isles 

China slams Rawat’s statement Context  China on Monday slammed comments by the Chief of Army Staff Bipin Rawat as “unconstructive,” and said his remarks did not conform to the spirit of September talks in Xiamen between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Narendra Modi What did Gen Rawat say? During last week’s press conference,… Continue reading China slams Rawat’s statement

Israel seeks ‘big data’ from India  Context Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to India Major agreements Agriculture collaboration using Indian population’s big database: Boosting measures to counter cyberthreats and to “revolutionise” Indian farm production, Israel has proposed to access India’s Big data The idea of big data was brought into the discussion by the Israeli… Continue reading Israel seeks ‘big data’ from India 

A new weapon in the carbon fight Context It is not usual to think of soils in the context of climate change. Policy is usually focussed on reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the electricity sector, transport and industry The Need There has been a renewed interest in understanding how soils can serve as a sink for… Continue reading A new weapon in the carbon fight

Problem of plenty  Context Agricultural policy should look to address the problem of severe price fluctuations Cycle of boom and bust There appears to be no end in sight to the cycle of boom and bust in the prices of agricultural goods Example: Potato prices as low as under a rupee, farmers in distress Last… Continue reading Problem of plenty 

Enabling a form of super surveillance  Context The Aadhaar project falls short in limiting biometrics collection to voluntary choice and in guaranteeing data protection Questions asked What really is Aadhaar all about? Is the machinery that supports it constitutionally sustainable? How does the creation of a central identity database affect the traditional relationship between the… Continue reading Enabling a form of super surveillance 

Wholesale inflation eases to 3-month low of 3.58% Context Wholesale price-based inflation (WPI) has cooled in December, 2017 to a three-month low of 3.58% thanks to the decline in prices of food items, according to data released on Monday by the Commerce and Industry Ministry. India Inc demands rate cut; wants petrol, diesel under GST… Continue reading Wholesale inflation eases to 3-month low of 3.58%

Face recognition for Aadhaar validation Context The Unique Identification Authority of India has decided to enable Face Authentication by July 1 this year for validating Aadhaar cards Why This move comes on the back of reports that beneficiaries of government schemes were not able to avail themselves of their entitlements in the absence of Aadhaar… Continue reading Face recognition for Aadhaar validation