9 PM Current Affairs Brief – October 16, 2017

The case for a public health cadre:  Context A dedicated personnel cadre for public health management shall improve India’s health-care delivery system Why have a dedicated Cadre? A dedicated, professionally trained personnel to address the specific and complex needs of the Indian health-care delivery system The 12th Five Year Plan and the National Health Policy,… Continue reading The case for a public health cadre: 

Railway Board takes up safety measures:  Context: With consecutive rail accidents, the Indian Railways is planning a series of steps to improve the safety of rail tracks. It includes automated inspections and frequent traffic blocks for maintenance. What are the problems faced by Indian Railways? Indian Railways is the fifth biggest rail network in the… Continue reading Railway Board takes up safety measures: 

SC to hear plea against linking Aadhaar to bank accounts, phones:  Context: The Supreme Court will hear a petition challenging the government move to link bank accounts and mobile phones with Aadhaar numbers. It is said to violate the fundamental right to privacy and equates citizens, including the elderly, women and students, with money launderers.… Continue reading SC to hear plea against linking Aadhaar to bank accounts, phones: 

NGT seeks report on Ganga clean-up:  Context The National Green Tribunal has directed the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh and the Uttarakhand governments to file affidavits stating instructions to clean the Ganga in the stretch between Gomukh and Unnao. What are the instructions directed by the NGT? The green panel had passed a slew of… Continue reading NGT seeks report on Ganga clean-up: 

Toxic farming:  Context: After an array of farmer deaths  because of pesticides, it is high time that the government had taken some concrete steps to regulate toxic chemicals used in agriculture. Usage of pesticides in India: an overview: Pesticides are substances that are meant to control pests or weeds. The term pesticide covers a wide… Continue reading Toxic farming: 

GST risks losing its idea of oneness:  Context GST risks losing its idea of oneness Challenges faces by GST GST: ‘One Nation, One Tax’— GST now as multiple tax slabs. And unless the GST Council addresses this, any such expansion of the scope of GST to bring in more sectors will be risking this marque… Continue reading GST risks losing its idea of oneness: 

What rising imports at a time of declining manufacturing indicate:  Context: Demonetisation broke domestic supply chain, and disruption caused by GST compounded problems, meanwhile, with remonetisation, demand rose, and was met by imports. Introduction: It  tells about the state and level of expectations about the economy that even a 4.3% year-on-year increase in the index… Continue reading What rising imports at a time of declining manufacturing indicate: 

Information utility under the IBC:  Context Recently National e-Governance Services Ltd (NeSL) became India’s first information utility (IU) for bankruptcy cases under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code 2016. This registration is valid for five years from the date of registration. About NeSL NESL is incorporated as a Union Government company and owned by leading public… Continue reading Information utility under the IBC: 

ITBP raises maiden mechanised column:  Context: ITBP (Indo-Tibetan Border Police) is deploying a mechanised column of power vehicles and machines to speedily mobilise troops along the India-China border in case of Doklam-like standoffs Introduction: The defence ministry had recently decided to significantly enhance infrastructure along this border including around the areas of dispute with the… Continue reading ITBP raises maiden mechanised column: