9 PM Current Affairs Brief – March 19th, 2018

Bilaspur’s stone age tools link Sivalikcultures What has happened? Researchers from the Anthropological Survey of India (AnSI) have discovered a number of Acheulian artefacts (dated to about 1, 500,000–1,50,000 years ago) along with contemporary Soanian ones from an unexplored site at Ghumarwin in Bilaspur district of Himachal Pradesh. The site is close to the site… Continue reading Bilaspur’s stone age tools link Sivalikcultures

Cauvery Board deadline will be met: Tamilisai What has happened? BJP State president TamilisaiSoundararajan said the Central government will definitely constitute the Cauvery Management Board within the six-week time frame set by the Supreme Court. On ballot paper idea Regarding the Congress’ 84th plenary session discussing a return to ballot papers, she said the forfeiture… Continue reading Cauvery Board deadline will be met: Tamilisai

Lok Sabha passes Bill to exempt political parties from scrutiny on foreign funds, without debate What has happened? The Lok Sabha, passed without a debate a bill that will exempt political parties from scrutiny of funds they have received from abroad since 1976 Background: amendments done to the Finance Bill 2018 Amendment to the Foreign… Continue reading Lok Sabha passes Bill to exempt political parties from scrutiny on foreign funds, without debate

Naidu to keep alive fight for Special Category Status What has happened? Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu said he was undeterred by the offensive that BJP leaders have threatened to launch against the Andhra Pradesh government, and asserted that their brand of ‘divisive politics’ that succeeded in Tamil Nadu would fail here He… Continue reading Naidu to keep alive fight for Special Category Status

Poison kills 32 rare vultures in Assam Context Death of 32 vultures in Assam’s Sivasagar district. Of the 32 that died, 29 were Himalayan griffons Reason for death Consumption of a poisoned carcass of a goat Vulture population Research data cited by the Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) last year show that populations of white-backed… Continue reading Poison kills 32 rare vultures in Assam

In a plastics world Context Findings of a recent study led by US-based non-profit organisation Orb Media that pointed out presence of microplastic in package (bottled) drinking water The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a review into the potential risks of plastic in drinking water after a new analysis of some of the world’s… Continue reading In a plastics world

Dangerous spiral Context New Delhi and Islamabad must address the tit-for-tat harassment of each other’s envoys Trigger The trigger for this round of ‘tit-for-tat’ actions appears to be an incident in February, when alleged ISI agents roughed up Pakistani construction workers headed for the Indian mission’s new building site in Islamabad Pakistan’s response: While Pakistan’s… Continue reading Dangerous spiral

Govt. to take spiritual route to spur tourism Context Promoting tourism in India Popularizing domestic tourism The government plans to promote religious tourism in the country, in order to increase domestic travel as close to 60% of domestic tourism in India is religious-based Stats Domestic tourism: The number of domestic tourist visits in 2017 =about 1.8 billion,… Continue reading Govt. to take spiritual route to spur tourism

‘RBI overruled House panel on power NPAs’ Context The Association of Power Producers has accused the RBI of overruling the Parliamentary standing panel on power and key ministries with its February 12 circular that ended all the existing loan restructuring mechanisms and voted for the insolvency code to resolve stressed assets What is the demand?… Continue reading ‘RBI overruled House panel on power NPAs’

WTO ministerial: 50 nations to take up global trade issues Context The government said that 50 nations will engage in free and frank discussions on global trade here this week to explore the options for resolving various issues and re-invigorating the WTO Occasion: Representatives from 50 countries will be gathering in New Delhi on 19-20… Continue reading WTO ministerial: 50 nations to take up global trade issues

No ‘power’ of choice for consumers Context Monopoly in power supply The issue In the auctions, where the companies who offer to sell electricity at the least prices are the winners, companies quotewell under Rs. 3 a unit of electricity in some auctions But consumer is paying more than Rs. 6 per unit and the… Continue reading No ‘power’ of choice for consumers