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Facts in news is published on a weekly basis that consists a gist of all crucial news articles from ‘The Hindu’ that may bear relevance to Civil Services Preparation.
Here is the Summary of all current happenings from around the world for the Third week of December.
Download Facts in News PDF file here.
| NEWS | FACTS |
|---|---|
| Bills, Policies, Programs, Schemes, Orders, Judgments | |
| National Medical Commission Bill | Context: • Key sections of the National Medical Commission Bill need a rethink. National Medical Commission Bill 2017: • The Bill seeks to repeal the old act and establish new institutional framework for medical governance in India. • The bill seeks to replace the Medical Council of India with National Medical Commission as top regulator of medical education in India. • The bill also seeks to put in place a common entrance exam and licentiate exam. • NMC will be a 20 member body comprising a Chairperson. • Medical graduates have to pass before practising or pursuing PG courses. |
| Triple talaq Bill | Context: • The Lok Sabha passed the ‘triple talaq’ Bill — the Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill. • It will soon be tabled in the Rajya Sabha. • Parliament is now in the process of enacting that Bill into law. The Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Bill: • It confirms that pronouncements of triple talaq are void. • It goes further by criminalising the utterance of triple talaq. • A victim of triple talaq, the Bill says, is entitled to a subsistence allowance and custody of minor children. • These provisions belong to a Bill that regulates divorce, not marriage. • A victim of triple talaq remains married to her husband. • As a wife, she should be entitled to far more than mere subsistence. • The question of custody does not arise where the couple remains married. • The penalty of imprisonment of three year in case of violation of the Bill. |
| Central Water Commission | Context: • Central Water Commission has received Central Board of Irrigation and Power (CBIP) Special Recognition Award 2018 . • The award was given for Excellence in Health & Safety of Large Dams. About: • Central Water Commission is a premier Technical Organization in the field of Water Resources . • Presently functioning as an attached office of the Ministry of Water Resources, River Development and Ganga Rejuvenation, Government of India. Why In News? • The Ministry of Water Resources (MoWR), with assistance from the World Bank, is implementing the DAM REHABILITATION AND IMPROVEMENT PROJECT (DRIP). About DRIP: • The objectives of DRIP are to improve the safety and performance of selected existing dams. |
| Comments sought on telecom policy 2018 | Context: • The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) released a consultation paper inviting stakeholder comments on the new National Telecom Policy. • The policy is expected to be finalised by March this year. • This policy would set the mission and objectives to be accomplished by the end of calendar year 2022. Twin goals: TRAI said, NTP-2018 “can have twin goals (i) facilitate development of communication infrastructure and services to achieve inclusive socio-economic growth in the country, and (ii) To propel India to become the front-runner in the Fourth Industrial Revolution. |
| Science and Technology | |
| Parker Solar Probe to be launched | Context: • NASA’s Parker Solar Probe is scheduled for launch in 2018. • It will explore the sun’s outer atmosphere. About Probe: • The probe will use Venus’ gravity to gradually bring its orbit closer to the sun. • The Parker Solar Probe will perform its scientific investigations in a hazardous region of intense heat and solar radiation. Mission: • The primary goals for the mission are to trace how energy and heat move through the solar corona. • To explore what accelerates the solar wind as well as solar energetic particles. Mars fleet: • In 2018, NASA will add to its existing robotic fleet on Mars with the InSight lander designed to study the interior and subsurface of the red planet. • The U.S. space agency’s first asteroid sample returns mission, OSIRIS-REx, is scheduled to arrive at the near-Earth asteroid Bennu in August 2018. • A survey satellite to search for planets outside the solar system is also to be launched. |
| Towards a genomics revolution | Context: • India has the scientific resources for genetic research — all it needs is the vision at the national level to leverage them. DNA: • The work of James Watson, Francis Crick, Maurice Wilkins and Rosalind Franklin, deciphered the structure of the molecule — DNA. • DNA stores our hereditary information and gets transmitted from parents to children over generations. Decreasing disease burden: • This knowledge could then also be quickly applied to the task of managing diseases. • The founder group of Ashkenazi Jews have almost eliminated Tay-Sachs disease from their population by such means. Solutions: • India to begin its own genomics revolution. • Need for a coherent push at the national level that involves government, academic institutions, the existing health-care industry, the IT industry and the nascent biotechnology industry. • Aim to set an ambitious but realistic objective of creating an Indian genetic data bank. • To promote academic programmes that train scientists, technicians and doctors in this area. • To create a regulatory framework that promotes broad objectives for both public and private sectors without being self-defeating. |
| Avian Influenza H5 | Context: • Avian influenza, commonly called bird flu, is an infectious viral disease of birds. • It causes outbreaks of serious disease. Why in news? • According to WHO, a few A(H5N1) human cases have been linked to consumption of dishes made of raw, contaminated poultry blood. • An outbreak of H5 Avian Influenza has been reported from Dasarahalli village from Bengaluru Urban District in Karnataka. |
| NASA launches 2 missions to explore nearest space | Context: • U.S. space agency National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is all set to launch two missions to explore a little-understood area 60 miles (96 KM) above Earth’s surface. • The missions are named GOLD and ICON. About GOLD: • GOLD runs in geostationary orbit over the Western Hemisphere, 22,000 miles (about 35,398 km) above the planet’s surface. • Global-scale Observations of the Limb and Disk (GOLD) mission will be launched aboard a commercial communications satellite in January 2018 About ICON: • ICON in low-Earth orbit, at 350 miles (560 km) above Earth, flies through and just above the ionosphere, like a close-up camera. • The designed spacecraft Ionospheric Connection Explorer (ICON) will be launched later this year. |
| Economy | |
| Finance Ministry asks PSBs to consider selling, swapping loan assets | Context: • The Finance Ministry has asked public sector banks (PSBs) to explore options for selling and swapping of loan assets with other lenders with a view to strengthen their balance sheets. • It will help banks focus on their core competencies and trim their burden. • The Finance Ministry has also asked PSBs to open micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) intensive branches. • Banks were also advised to strengthen cluster-based lending. MSMEs: • MSMEs, are a huge employment generator in the country, contribute 40% of India’s manufacturing. • Banks were also advised to strengthen cluster-based lending. Cluster focus: • 50 clusters have been identified for enhanced access to financing. • Small Industries Development Bank of India has revamped the udyamimitra.in portal, so that banks compete for financing MSME projects. |
| Why is the fiscal deficit widening? | Context: • The government’s fiscal deficit up to November came in at 112% of the amount budgeted for the entire financial year ending in March. What does it mean? • The data from the Controller General of Accounts shows that the government’s expenditure seems to be on track. • It has spent 68.9% of the amount budgeted for the year, with four months remaining. • In other words, it has 31% of its budgeted expenditure left for the remaining 25% of the year. What is fiscal deficit? • The difference between total revenue and total expenditure of the government is termed as fiscal deficit. • It is an indication of the total borrowings needed by the government. • While calculating the total revenue, borrowings are not included. |
| Right of a defaulting firm’s promoter to bid is a moot point | Context: • The Lok Sabha passed the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (Amendment) Bill, 2017. About IBC: • The IBC was enacted in 2016. • It purpose was to find a time-bound resolution for ailing and sick firms, while protecting the interests all stakeholders. • The Bill prohibits wilful defaulters, promoters or management of the company, if it has an outstanding non-performing debt. • It also bars the sale of property of a defaulting firm to such persons during liquidation. • The role of the IBC in the present scenario is to remove delays in the resolution process. |
| Fears over FRDI Bill misplaced, says government | Context: • The government has said depositors will be given preferential treatment in the event of liquidation of a bank. • The controversial bail-in clause will be used only with the prior consent of depositors. What is Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017? • The Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017 is a part more comprehensive approach by the Centre towards systematic resolution of all financial firms. • The Bill comes together with the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code. • It aims at finding and finalizing a resolution plan to get a troubled company back on track, or, in the event of failure, ensure a quick winding up. Importance of Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017: • The need for a specific regulation rose following the 2008 financial crisis. • The crisis witnessed a large number of high-profile bankruptcies. Provisions of the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017: • The provisions of the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill, 2017: Resolution Corporation: • The Bill provides for the setting up of a Resolution Corporation. No major modification: • The provisions contained in the FRDI Bill do not modify present protections to the depositors adversely at all. • They provide rather additional protections to the depositors in a more transparent manner. Depositor friendly: • The FRDI Bill is far more depositor friendly than many other jurisdictions, which provide for statutory bail-in, where consent of creditors / depositors is not required for bail-in. Wider range of support: • The FRDI Bill does not propose in any way to limit the scope of powers for the Government to extend financing and resolution support to banks, including Public Sector Banks. • The Government’s implicit guarantee for Public Sector Banks remains unaffected. Strengthening of the system: • The FRDI Bill will strengthen the system by adding a comprehensive resolution regime. • It will help ensure that, in the rare event of failure of a financial service provider. |
| Arun Jaitley notifies electoral bonds for political donations | Context: • Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley outlined the basic contours of the electoral bonds scheme announced during the 2017 Budget. About Electoral bonds: • The electoral bonds, will be issued by notified banks and post-offices, can be redeemed by recognized political parties within a prescribed time-limit. • Electoral bonds will allow donors to remain anonymous and pay political parties using banks as intermediaries. • Electoral bonds would be a bearer instrument in the nature of a promissory note and an interest-free banking instrument. • A citizen of India or a body incorporated in India will be eligible to purchase the bond. • The bonds, aimed at increasing transparency in political funding. • It will have a life of 15 days during which they can be used to make donations to registered political parties. • The bond shall be encashed by an eligible political party only through a designated bank account with the authorised bank. KYC norms • Electoral bonds can be purchased for any value in multiples of ₹1,000, ₹10,000, ₹10 lakh, and ₹1 crore from any of the specified branches of the State Bank of India. • The purchaser will be allowed to buy electoral bonds only on due fulfilment of all the extant KYC norms and by making payment from a bank account. Purpose of electoral bonds: • The aim was to bring transparency in funding of political parties and elections. • The bonds would get reflected in the balance sheet of the donors. • Electoral bonds, can be given to a registered political party, which has secured at least 1% vote in last election. • That party will have to give a bank account to the Election Commission and it will have to be encashed within 15 days. • Electoral bonds will ensure clean money and significant transparency against the current system of unclean money” |
| Council for Trade Development and Promotion | Context: • Union Minister for Commerce and Industry will chair the 3rd meeting of the Council for Trade Development and Promotion. About Council for Trade Development and Promotion: • The Council for Trade Development and Promotion was constituted on 03.07.15. • It was constituted under the chairpersonship of the Union Minister for Commerce and Industry. Objective: • To ensure a continuous dialogue with the governments of states and Union Territories on measures for providing an international trade. • To create a framework for making the states active partners in boosting India’s exports. |
| Key ministries disagree over CAMPA fund | Context: • Differences between the environment ministry and the finance ministry have become a roadblock to the Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA). CAMPA Funds: • These funds are meant to be used by states to implement agro-forestry in non-forest land to compensate for felled forest. • Power to disburse the funds should be with the CAMPA, however the finance ministry says it should be routed through the Consolidated Fund of India (CFI). • Currently funds collected under CAMPA directly go into the Public Account and from there on to the states. • Currently, states are able to access CAMPA funds through an “ad hoc” mechanism whereby the Centre disburses it on a needs-basis. • The Supreme Court, in a 2009 order, had directed that an independent authority be charged with disbursing these funds. • This paved the way for the Compensatory and Afforestation Fund (CAF) Bill envisaging the creation of a permanent Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority |
| Centre approves ₹5,369 cr. for waterway project | Context: • The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the more than ₹5,369 crore Jal Marg Vikas Project. • It is for development of fairway on National Waterway-1 with the technical and investment support of the World Bank. About project: • The project will extend over Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal. • It will cover major districts. • The project is expected to be completed by March 2023. • It will provide alternative mode of transport that will be environment friendly and cost effective. • The project would contribute in bringing down the logistics cost in the country while providing a boost to infrastructure development. Job creation • NW-1 development and operations will lead to direct employment generation. |
| Govt. nod for revised PPP port concessions | Context: • The government approved a revised model concession pact for projects based on public private partnership (PPP) design at major ports to make the investment climate more investor friendly. Model Concession Agreement: • The revised Model Concession Agreement (MCA) includes providing an exit route to developers by way of divesting their equity up to 100% after completion of two years from the Commercial Operation Date (COD), similar to the MCA provisions of the highways sector. • The amendment in MCA will make the port projects more investor-friendly and make investment climate in the port sector more attractive. • The amendments in the MCA envisage constitution of the Society for Affordable Redressal of Disputes - Ports (SAROD- PORTS) as a disputes resolution mechanism. • This would replace the present procedure of charging royalty which is equal to the percentage of gross revenue, calculated on the basis of upfront normative tariff ceiling prescribed by Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP). |
| International relations | |
| Why is the pact on Rohingya important? | Context: • Bangladesh and Myanmar announced had signed a Memorandum of Agreement to repatriation Rohingya refugees. • These refugees have fled to Bangladesh in the past few months. • Joint working group including officials from Bangladesh, Myanmar and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) will be set up. • Myanmar would begin to repatriate the refugees within two months. Why China is interested? • Beijing has deep interests in Rakhine, especially in the Kyaukpyu Port, with oil and energy pipelines to Yunnan province forming part of a $10 billion economic zone in its Belt and Road Initiative. • China has protected the Myanmar regime from international sanctions at the UN. What is Myanmar’s stand? • The Myanmar government as well as its military leadership not accepting more repatriation. • In September, the Human Rights Council in Geneva voted to extend the mandate of an international fact-finding committee to investigate allegations of human rights violations in Myanmar. • International human rights agencies have also called for targeted sanctions and an arms embargo against the Myanmar security forces. |
| China-Myanmar economic corridor: | Context: • China and Myanmar have moved a step closer to negotiate the China-Myanmar economic corridor. About corridor: • It is an initiative that is being given high priority on account of the stalled Bangladesh-China-India-Myanmar (BCIM) connectivity proposal. • The Y-shaped corridor can start from China’s Yunnan province, and head towards Mandalay in Myanmar. • From there it could extend towards the east and west to Yangon New City and Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone, in the Rakhine province. • The China-Myanmar corridor will connect Beijing with the Indian Ocean. • Recently, India-Myanmar Bilateral Military Exercise (IMBAX-2017) also concluded at the Joint Training Node in Umroi, Meghalaya. Rohingya refugee crisis: • Also proposed a three-point plan to resolve the Rohingya refugee crisis. • Ethnic Rohingyas have flooded into neighbouring Bangladesh, amid allegations of human rights abuses by Myanmar's military. Purpose: • The China-Myanmar corridor will enhance connectivity between the two countries. • The existing highways, oil and gas pipelines will give China the best access to the Indian Ocean. • The corridor will also accelerate the transfer of China's industries to Myanmar. • China has begun to transfer some of its industries abroad. • The corridor will also help turn Myanmar into an important destination for China and other East Asian countries. • It will help create more jobs and bolster development locally. |
| India makes Iran stopover on eve of Chabahar port inaugural | Context: • India and Iran held talks for the inauguration of the port of Chabahar. • It will open Afghanistan and Central Asia to Indian commerce. • The talks were held in Tehran. • The first phase of the port known as the Shahid Behesti port. • Iran also wants to develop the hinterland of Chabahar for which it seeks broader international collaboration. About Chahabar port: • Chabahar Port is a seaport in Chabahar located in southeastern Iran, on the Gulf of Oman. • It serves as Iran's only oceanic port, and consists of two separate ports named Shahid Kalantari and Shahid Beheshti, each of which has five berths. Advantages of Chahabar port: • The port would expand mutual and regional cooperation. • It also highlighted its significant role in boosting contacts and cooperation between countries in Central Asia with other countries via the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean. • The port would help India reach out to Afghanistan. • Strategically, Chabahar is very important both for Iran and India. • Development of this port will add to the connectivity of the two countries. |
| ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit | Context: • External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will visit Thailand, Indonesia and Singapore. • The visit includes the launch of the Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas for the ASEAN countries. • The meeting will pave the way for the forthcoming ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit. Pravasi Bharatiya Divas: • The visiting Minister will inaugurate the Regional Pravasi Bharatiya Divas of ASEAN countries in Singapore. • The theme is “Ancient route, new journey: diaspora in the dynamic ASEAN-India partnership”. • The Regional PBD is a large-scale event covering a wide range of sectors such as political relations, culture, connectivity, start-ups and science & technology. ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit: • The ASEAN – India Commemorative Summit is an international meeting. • The India-ASEAN relationship was elevated to a "strategic" partnership at the 2012 meeting ASEAN: • The Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) comprises of Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam. • The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”. |
| Indo-Pacific quad may soon have a gaping hole as China re-engages Japan | Context: • The quad group of India, Japan, Australia and the United States in the Indo-Pacific may soon have a gaping hole as Tokyo and Beijing appear set to revamp ties in 2018. • A Japan-China-South Korea leaders’ summit is planned in Japan About Quad grouping: • India has recently become a party to a group called “Quad or Quadrilateral”,composing Australia, India, Japan and U.S.A. • It was originally initiated in 2007 but later disbanded with withdrawal of Australia. • It has been recently revived and is being viewed as response to increased Chinese economic and military power. |
| India has cancelled order for Spike anti-tank missiles | Context: • India will buy 131 Barak missiles and associated equipment from Rafael Advanced Defence Systems Ltd for Rs460 crore. • The second proposal cleared was for procurement of 240 bombs, at a cost of Rs1,254 crore from JSC Rosonboron Exports, Russia. • These bombs, which fall under the category of Precision Guided Munitions, are used by Indian Air Force (IAF). Why in news? • India has called off an order to buy Spike anti-tank guided missiles from Israel’s state-owned defence contractor Rafael • India will buy 131 Barak surface-to-air missiles built by Rafael. • India’s Defence Research and Development Organisation was developing a domestic anti-tank missile. Purpose: • This procurement will address the deficiency of Precision Guided Munitions in the IAF arsenal. • It will help in enhancing the offensive capabilities of the IAF. |
| US put Pakistan on Special Watch List | Context: • US places Pakistan on ‘Special Watch List’ for ‘severe violations’ of religious freedom Special watch list: • Special watch list is a new category created by the Frank R Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016. • The 2016 Frank R Wolf International Religious Freedom Act amended the IRF Act. • The purpose of amendment to require the President to designate a ‘Special Watch List’ of countries deemed not to meet all of the CPC criteria but who engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom. |
| India-China relations | Context: • India and China must begin the task of repairing bilateral ties. India-China relations: • India taking a strong stance against China’s ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). • It ended with China tightening its grip on South Asia. • India used this to counter the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, an important element of the BRI Challenge: • Doklam stand-off which underscored the challenges in this bilateral relationship. About BRI: • One Belt and One Road Initiative, (OBOR), The Belt and Road, (B&R) and The Belt and Road Initiative, (BRI) is a development strategy proposed by Chinese Government. • It focuses on connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries, the land-based Silk Road Economic Belt( (SREB) and the ocean-going Maritime Silk Road (MSR). • The strategy underlines China's push to take a larger role in global affairs with a China-centered trading network |
| Social issues | |
| Understanding Bhima Koregaon | Context: • Bhima Koregaon in Pune, Maharashtra, tiny village, is associated with an extraordinary phase of Maratha history. • Few hundred years ago, Mahar soldiers of the East India Company, , defeated the massive Peshwa army led by Peshwa Bajirao II, in Koregaon. • This battle has, since, attained legendary stature in Dalit history. Why in news? • In recent years, particularly in Maharashtra since the Bhima-Koregaon Ranstambh Seva Sangh (BKRSS) was formed, Dalits regard the pillar as a site of positive memory of their valour. • It helps them relate to their social and political marginalisation in contemporary times. • The debate here, however, is whether such invoking of history is effective in hoisting Dalit politics to a new level. • Few Hindutva organisations planned and perpetuated violence against the Dalits in Bhima Koregaon. |
| Health issues | |
| WHO okays Bharat Bio typhoid shot | Context: • Hyderabad firm’s Typbar typhoid conjugate vaccine can now be supplied globally. • Bharat Biotech has received a pre-qualification from the World Health Organisation (WHO) for Typbar Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine. • This paves the way for supplies of the vaccine to UNICEF, Pan-American Health Organization (PAHO) and Gavi supported countries. About Typbar TCV: • Typbar TCV is the first typhoid vaccine clinically proven to be administered to children from 6 months of age to adults. • It confers long-term protection against typhoid fever. |
| Environment issues | |
| Jal Mahotsav | Context: • India’s biggest water carnival through ‘Jal Mahotsav’ is organised every year in Hanuwantiya Island in Madhya Pradesh. About Hanuwantiya island: • Hanuwantiya island in Khandwa offers opportunities akin to ‘coastal’ tourism, as a byproduct of clean energy and water storage initiatives under the aegis of Indira Sagar Dam project (that forms the largest reservoir in India). Purpose: • Jal Mahotsav’ may promote awareness workshops on natural resource conservation. |
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