9 PM Daily Current Affairs Brief – August 7, 2017

India’s villages: for want of a road:  Context: Roads of rural India today continue to be severely constrained when it comes to everyday travel and mobility. Explanation: Around 40% of the villages in India lacked all-weather connectivity, constraining them when it came to mobility. This placed limits upon their economic well-being The gradual shift: Using… Continue reading India’s villages: for want of a road: 

Fairness and dignity in livelihoods:  Context: The government must focus on policies that will generate more dignified and sustainable livelihoods than the Indian economy is producing at present. Explanation: All surveys of small enterprises in India, who are the largest generators of employment, have revealed that the principal constraints on their growth are obtaining finance,… Continue reading Fairness and dignity in livelihoods: 

Skill, don’t detain:  Context: The Centre should reconsider its decision to scrap no-detention policy in primary schools. Explanation: When the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act became law in 2010, it appeared to be a wall against the various ills that prevent continued schooling of all children up to the secondary level.… Continue reading Skill, don’t detain: 

Private power, public apathy:  Context: There is an urgent need to modify landmark labour laws to bring domestic work under the purview of state regulation. Explanation: Domestic workers are among the most exploited sections of the Indian workforce. The NSSO data of 2004-05, for example, has recorded 47 lakh domestic workers in India; the majority… Continue reading Private power, public apathy: 

Let’s talk about a supplemental income:  Context: There has been a lot of discussion on universal basic income (UBI) in both developed and developing countries Explanation: The primary objective of UBI is to enable every citizen to have a certain minimum income. The term ‘universal’ is meant to connote that the minimum or basic income… Continue reading Let’s talk about a supplemental income: 

China’s RCEP push veils grand plan:  Context: Technical level talks of the proposed FTA, officially known as Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnerships (RCEP), held from July 18 to 28 at the Hyderabad International Convention Centre. Introduction: 16 Asia-Pacific countries participated in 19th round of tariff negotiations held at  Hyderabad. The RCEP is billed as an FTA… Continue reading China’s RCEP push veils grand plan: 

Protect teachers in private colleges: SC: Context Mr. Yadav, Filed a PIL plea to end ‘blackmail, harassment’ of over four lakh teachers in various private engineering colleges, recognised by the All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE). Plea Moved by the petition, the court ordered that the AICTE shall take a conscious decision of issues… Continue reading Protect teachers in private colleges: SC:

Nine High Courts oppose all-India judicial service:  Context A recent Law and Justice Ministry document stated that Nine High Courts have opposed a proposal to have an all-India service for the lower judiciary. Two back idea, while eight seek alterations in proposal Moreover, eight have sought changes in the proposed framework and only two have… Continue reading Nine High Courts oppose all-India judicial service: 

Kerala bats for right to privacy:  Context Kerala Government had recently stated that technology in future could use the data collected through Aadhaar for surveillance Right to Privacy absolute? The state has further asked to protect the fundamental right and safeguard its citizens from intrusions by the State. Kerala has insisted that even though ‘Right… Continue reading Kerala bats for right to privacy: 

Pressure on Nepal over Doklam standoff:  Context China has reached Nepal to discuss about the recent Standoff between India and China over Doklam Nepal’s Prime minister’s visit to India The upcoming visit of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba to Delhi is likely to highlight Nepal’s position on bilateral issues between India and China. The apparent… Continue reading Pressure on Nepal over Doklam standoff: 

Jaguar jets still flying without autopilot: CAG: Context: One of the frontline fighters of the Indian Air Force, the Jaguars, is still flying without autopilots, an essential flying aid, the Comptroller and Auditor-General has said. Background: In a report presented in Parliament on July 28, the CAG said that the flying aid capability envisaged by… Continue reading Jaguar jets still flying without autopilot: CAG:

ATM expansion slows due to note ban: Context: A combination of factor, including demonetization of high values notes, have led to commercial banks cutting down on the number of automated teller machines (ATMs), particularly those not located in branches(off-site ATMs), latest RBI data showed. Introduction: According to Reserve Bank of India (RBI), there were 98,092… Continue reading ATM expansion slows due to note ban:

‘High oil taxes curbed consumption, investment’:  Context: NITI Aayog’s next Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar believes focus should be job creation, not claims of economic victory Introduction: The Centre’s reliance on higher taxation of petroleum products to mop up revenue could be in for review. The government raises taxes on petroleum products on more than one… Continue reading ‘High oil taxes curbed consumption, investment’: 

A patchy green:  Context: The Draft national energy policy still in the draft form and waiting for government’s approval Loopholes in the policy: It does not define roles, responsibilities and accountabilities. It does not provide a timeline for delivery and there is no discussion on financing. Solution: Niti Aayog, should extend its mandate unilaterally and… Continue reading A patchy green: 

After SC order, focus on chemicals in firecrackers: Context: The Supreme Court barred manufacturers from using five specified chemicals ‘in any form whatsoever’ to prevent air pollution. Introduction: The apex court ban the use of antimony, lithium, mercury, arsenic and lead in the manufacture of firecrackers to prevent air pollution has turned the focus on… Continue reading After SC order, focus on chemicals in firecrackers: