Brief of newspaper articles for the day bearing
relevance to Civil Services preparation
- GS PAPER 2
- India senses a chance at NSG after Vienna meet {Foreign Policy}
- Malabar exercise begins near islands contested by China {Foreign Policy}
- GS PAPER 3
- Coming, IIT coaching right at your doorstep {e-Governance}
- Centre’s new bill to give more power to major sea ports {Economy}
- Power looms running on solar energy likely to get subsidy from Centre {Economy}
- Steering India to safer roads {Governance}
- Rai, RBI to hold parleys over bad loan probes {Economy}
- Patent Office issues norms for start-ups {Economy}
GS PAPER 2
[1] India senses a chance at NSG after Vienna meet + ‘Most members feel India meets NSG norms’ + A place in the club
The Hindu The Hindu Indian Express
Context
- India’s membership of NSG
Recent Developments
- Indian negotiators are sensing a chance at working with China to convince it of New Delhi’s qualifications to enter the group. The final decision is expected at the NSG annual plenary in Seoul on June 24-25, when the 48 members must decide by consensus on applications by India and Pakistan.
- While the NSG meeting was “closed-door”, it is confirmed that the number of those countries holding out against India was “in single digit”, but China continues to have reservations.
- Among the other unconvinced countries are Turkey, Kazakhstan and Ireland, while Mexico and Switzerland have switched over to support India after Prime Minister’s visit to these countries.
- Most of the countries that were not ready to accept India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) spoke of the need for a process rather than an exception for India.
- Most members felt India had fulfilled most of the criteria set by the NSG since 2008.
Steps taken to garner support from China
- Government moved quickly to liberalise visas and taking Chinese scholars and conference participants off the “prior referral” list.
- India-U.S. joint statement during Prime Minister’s visit to Washington this week, had no mention of the contentious South China Sea issue.
What is Prior referral category country?
- Prior referral category country means visas are issued by the respective Indian missions and consulates after running a thorough background check on individual applicants.
Objection raised by China
- China argues that since India is being allowed to join the NSG without signing the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, until now a precondition, the rules of club membership need to be amended for all.
- The argument is designed to benefit Pakistan, but the NSG’s other members do not wish to be seen to be rewarding Pakistan’s unedifying record of proliferating nuclear technology to Libya, Iran and North Korea.
Effect of being its member
- According to some experts the fight is, in some senses, about prestige, not tangible ends.
- India needs nuclear technology and fuel; an exemption granted to India by the NSG in 2008 allows it access to both.
- The truth is that India, mired in domestic debates over liability for nuclear accidents, has been slow to capitalise on the opportunities the exemption opened up.
- Indian companies like Larsen & Tubro or Walchandnagar Industries, who have experience with construction of nuclear power plants, could find markets overseas if the country gains NSG membership. They are not, however, likely to emerge as major exporters of nuclear technology, at least in the short term.
What India could do now
- India could relegate its NSG bid to the back-burner, and focus on growing its domestic nuclear energy infrastructure. It could, alternately, work towards a bargain where China is allowed entry into the Missile Technology Control Regime, where India is now assured of membership, in return for dropping its veto in the NSG.
- India could explore whether a door could be opened for Pakistani membership of the NSG, in return for that country opening up its notoriously opaque nuclear programme to international scrutiny. Pakistan has been the sole international hold-out against the Fissile Material Cut-off Treaty, which would cap stockpiles meant for the production of nuclear weapons; NSG membership might be a means to induce it to come on board with a verifiable means to cap its arsenal.
- The Fissile Material Cutoff Treaty (FMCT) is a proposed international treaty to prohibit the further production of fissile material for nuclear weapons or other explosive devices.
[2] Malabar exercise begins near islands contested by China
Context
- Malabar exercise has been conducted close to islands claim by China
Malabar Exercise
- Exercise Malabar is a trilateral naval exercise involving the United States, Japan and India as permanent partners.
- Originally a bilateral exercise between India and the U.S., Japan became a permanent partner in 2015.
- Past non-permanent participants are Australia and Singapore.
- The annual Malabar series began in 1992 and includes diverse activities, ranging from fighter combat operations from aircraft carriers through Maritime Interdiction Operations Exercises.
Key points:-
- This is the 20th edition of the exercise.
- The primary aim of this exercise is to increase interoperability among the three navies and develop common understanding of procedures for maritime security operations.
- The exercise was conducted not very far from the Air Defence Identification Zone imposed by China over the East China Sea in November 2013, including the Senkaku Islands, controlled by Japan but claimed by Beijing, and the nine dash line.
- The exercise also comes at a time of increased sighting of Chinese submarines in India’s own backyard, close to Sri Lanka.
GS PAPER 3
[1] Coming, IIT coaching right at your doorstep
Issue
- The government is set to take coaching material and lectures for preparation for admission to the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) straight to the aspirants’ doorstep as part of an initiative called ‘IIT Pal’.
Why it is being done?
- It is aimed at offering a fair chance to students who cannot afford coaching to crack the IIT entrance test.
- The mushrooming of coaching institutes has become a matter of concern.
- Coaching is seen as necessary for clearing the test, known for its tough competition.
- The government is of the view that this makes it difficult for students not undertaking coaching to have a fair chance and such aspirants need a helping hand.
How it can be accessed
- The material will be available free of cost.
- Lectures can be accessed on a free channel via direct-to-home (DTH) television
- Massive open online courses (MOOCs) will provide study material on internet without a charge.
- The material will not just comprise subject-wise compendiums but also have exercises and mock tests.
Challenges
- One challenge before the Ministry is to roll out the initiative in as many languages as possible, though this would require multi-lingual lectures and study material.
[2] Centre’s new bill to give more power to major sea ports
Issue
- Shipping Ministry has proposed a legislation according to which major ports will be able to lease land for port-related use for up to 40 years, and for non-port related activities up to 20 years.
Prospect of this
- When implemented, it will replace more than the five-decade-old Major Port Trust Act 1963 and willenable port authorities to function like a corporate entity.
- Of the 12 ports, the Kamaraj Port Ltd has already been corporatised.
- The proposed bill would provide more autonomy and flexibility to the 11 major ports and will bring in a professional approach in their governance.
Features of the Bill
- To reduce the extent of litigation between Public Private Partnership operators and Ports;
- An independent Review Board has been proposed (to carry out the residual function of the erstwhile Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) for major ports) to look into disputes between ports and PPP concessionaries, to review stressed PPP projects and suggest measures to review stressed PPP projects. At present, there is no independent body to look into these aspects.
- As per the draft bill, a distinction has been made between the usage of land for port and non-port related activities in terms of approval of leases. The Port Authorities are empowered to lease land for port-related use for up to 40 years and for non-port related use up to 20 years, beyond which the approval of the Central Government is required.
- The board will comprise nine members including three to four independent members instead of the 17-19 under the Port Trust model. Provisions have been made for inclusion of three functional heads of major ports as members in the board apart from a Government nominee member and a labour nominee member.
- The need for Government approval for raising loans, appointment of consultants, execution of contracts and creation of service posts has been dispensed with.
Disqualification norms
- The disqualification of the appointment of the Board members, their duties and provision of the meetings of the Board through video conferencing etc., have been introduced on the lines of Companies Act, 2013, as has been the concept of internal audit.
- The Board of Port Authority has been empowered to raise loans and issue security for capital expenditure and working capital requirements.
[3] Power looms running on solar energy likely to get subsidy from Centre
Issue
- The Centre is considering granting subsidy to power looms operating on solar energy as part of its clean energy initiatives.
Analysis
- From August 15, power looms in the country will utilise solar energy for running their operations.
- The total subsidy to be given is Rs.3.75 lakh to persons belonging to the General Category, Rs.5.62 lakh for OBC category and Rs.6.75 lakh to SC/ST.
Additional developments
- Textile ministry was in talks with the finance ministry on measures to ensure that the textiles sector gets access to credit at affordable rates.
- National textiles policy will be announced soon.
- Efforts are on to increase the competitiveness of the Indian textiles and apparel sector in global markets considering India has to take advantage of the rising wage costs in China.
- Amended Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme was rolled out in January 2016 with a budget provision of Rs.17,822 crore for the next seven years. The amended scheme would give a boost to “Make in India” in the textiles sector; it is expected to attract investment to the tune of one lakh crore rupees, and create over 30 lakh jobs.
- Integrated Processing Development Scheme was rolled out to provide up to 50 per cent assistance for Common Effluent Treatment Plants with Zero Liquid Discharge system, subject to a ceiling of Rs.75 crore. Integrated Processing Development Scheme (IPDS) aimed at addressing the environmental concerns faced by textiles units.
[4] Steering India to safer roads + Roadkill nation
Issue:
- Road Accidents.
Road Safety in India 2015 report by Ministry of Road transport and Highway says:
- In 2015, 400 people lost their lives every day on India’s roads and acknowledged an escalation in road accidents and casualties.
- And If we talk about globally, India is second only to China for road fatalities.
- Two-wheelers contribute largely to the fatality rate, and serve as the first challenge.
Reason given by the ministry are:
- Engineering defects in road projects
- Unprofessional process of issuing driving licences, it is clearly evident in the findings that driver error accounts for over three out of four accidents.
- Corruption is the single biggest contributor.
- Compromised Engineering quality.
This is a public health emergency that requires immediate action. Which includes:
- Zero tolerance enforcement like use of helmets and wearing seat belts.
- Legislation.
- India does not have a scientific accident investigation agency. Which India needs desperately because police always blame driver for the accident but they does not see a composite factors for the accidents like bad road design and infrastructure.
- Proposed National Road Safety and Traffic Management Board will only be an advisory body, which many believe that it will not be competent to change the current scenario.
- There is virtual monopoly held by automotive companies on the sale of spares and servicing of vehicles, Which is affecting quality of maintenance. Centre government should act to end this vicious cycle.
- All this actions required is not just owed to government but to non government organisations too.
Conclusion:
- Research suggests there will be an annual rise in fatalities until 2042, before a decline sets in.
- Minister has restated his commitment to halve the road accidents by 2020.
- If this really happens, this will be a first step towards resolution of a national disgrace.
[5] Rai, RBI to hold parleys over bad loan probes
Issue
- Public sector banks, are under lot of pressure from investigative agencies, because of rise in non-performing assets.
Key points:-
- Centre has asked banks to speed up their recovery efforts by using all the available tools including one time settlement.
- If banks go for one time investment, then they might have to let go a substantial amount to settle as part of the one time settlement. And banks are wary that the investigative agencies will hound them if their decisions go wrong.
- To release the pressure from the bankers , the newly formed Banks Board Bureau (BBB) has decided to discuss the issue with the Reserve Bank of India in the presence of bankers.
- RBI has also cautioned against a growing trend of probing loan defaults, saying it could ‘chill’ lending.
- As, lenders will hesitate to make any bold decision, and it might hurt the economy.
[6] Patent Office issues norms for start-ups
News
- Indian Patent Office has issued guidelines for facilitators and start-ups.
Key points of the guidelines :-
- It is aimed at promoting awareness and adoption of intellectual property rights by start-ups and facilitate them in protecting and commercialising those rights. It will encourage budding entrepreneurs and boost innovation.
- As per the guidelines, a start-up willing to file a patent application for an invention will have to select a facilitator who would help in preparing the request and also assess the patentability of the invention as per acts and rules, the Controller General Patents, Designs and Trade Marks.
- If the start-up is unable to select a facilitator, it should contact the head office of the respective Patent Office as per jurisdiction, who shall provide 3 names of the facilitator and the start-up will finalise the name.
- The fee for filing the application and other statutory fees would have to be borne by the start-up.
- The facilitator shall also have to monitor and perform further steps of proceedings of start-ups patent application, prepare the reply to any query from patent office.
Leave a Reply