National
[1] EC for 5-year ban on those bribing voters
[2] SAARC satellite set for lift-of
[3] Farmer suicides get attention of apex court
Security
[1] Smart fence soon along LoC
Environment
[1] No tourist entry into Odisha national park
[2] Six tigers to be relocated to Buxa Tiger Reserve
Agriculture
[1] Drops of water better than the gush
Editorials
[1] Kashmir’s unending tragedy
[2] Building holistic ties
[3] Reining in the sharks
Ethics
[1] VIP culture must end, says PM
The Indian Express
[1] Oil more slippery
National
[1] EC for 5-year ban on those bribing voters
Context
To seek amendments in RPA
What has happened?
The Election Commission will soon ask the government to disqualify for up to five years candidates listed in charge sheets for bribing voters, a move which comes after it found that “innovative ways” were used for luring electors in a Tamil Nadu by election
Methods used
Many complaints were received by the panel on possibilities of inducement of electors by distributing cash and gifts in innovative forms like tokens, prepaid phone recharge coupons, newspaper subscription, milk tokens, money transfer in no-frill accounts in banks and even mobile wallet payment to mobile numbers
EC does not want to use its constitutional powers too frequently
Currently, It can use its constitutional powers under Article 324 to countermand a poll over use of money power, but it wants the power to be vested to it under law
[2] SAARC satellite set for lift-of
Context
All nations in the grouping, except Pakistan, to benefit from ISRO’s May 5 launch
What has happened?
The ‘South Asia Satellite,’ which India has built for use by countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) will be launched on May 5
Applications
- Natural resources mapping, telemedicine, education, deeper IT connectivity or fostering people-to-people contact
- India announced the satellite project at the 2014 SAARC summit in Nepal, and all SAARC countries, except Pakistan, have joined it
Cost
The total cost of launching the satellite is put at Rs. 235 crore, and it will be met by the Government of India
Specifications
- The 2,230-kg satellite was built by the Indian Space Research Organisation and has 12 Ku-band transponders
- It is cuboid in shape and built around a central cylinder
- It has a mission life of over 12 years
- It will be launched from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota on the Geostationary Launch Vehicle Mk-II
- The GSLV-F09 is about 50 metre tall and is the 11th flight of the GSLV
[3] Farmer suicides get attention of apex court
Context
SC widened the scope of a petition to cover entire nation and asked Centre to provide an action plan
What has happened?
- A study conducted across 13 States by the Union Agriculture Ministry throws up the all-too-familiar reasons that drive farmers to suicide
- The Ministry’s agricultural economic research unit, Agricultural and Rural Transformation Centre (ADRTC) of the Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru, investigated farmers’ suicides in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal
Causes found
Frequent crop failure, vagaries of the monsoon, absence of assured water resources, attacks of pests and diseases, debts, farming and social causes.
NCRB data
Nothing has changed on the ground for the farmer in the past two years, as is clear from the Union Home Ministry’s National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), which disseminates and compiles information on “suicides of self-employed in farming/agriculture” in its publication Accidental Deaths and Suicides in India
Affidavit in court
In an affidavit filed by the Agriculture Ministry in the Supreme Court last week, the Centre agrees with the court that the deaths of farmers are an “unfortunate issue”, but it can only formulate a line of action to resolve the issue, the actual implementation at the ground level is the responsibility of the individual States.
Rescheduling of loans
The Reserve Bank of India has allowed State and district level banks to take a lenient view on rescheduling of loans if crop loss is 33% or more
Relief measures
The government affidavit, however, points to relief measures such as the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana
The government has highlighted the Kisan Credit Card scheme and the e-National Agricultural Market Scheme launched on April 14, 2016 to “create a single unified market for the State and ultimately for the nation for agricultural commodities.”
Security
[1] Smart fence soon along LoC
Context
Army to speed up work on erecting the barrier in view of rising infiltration
What has happened?
With infiltration across the Line of Control (LoC) on the rise, the Army is all set to accelerate work on installing a smart fence to replace the existing border fence following successful trials
Existing
- The existing one called the Anti-Infiltration Obstacle System (AIOS) is located about 700m from the LoC
- The double-row fence consisting of concertina wire was constructed between 2003 and 2005
- The border fence forms the first line of defence in the three-tier counter-infiltration grid
High degradation
- The present one has a high rate of degradation due to snow and has to be repaired after every season which costs about Rs. 50-60 crore every year
- Over time infiltrators have devised ways to cross it
Surveillance features
The smart fence stretching about 700 km will have enhanced surveillance features with sensors integrated and also has better survivability
1,000-crore estimate
Army has received in-principle approval for the project and have been assured required funds. The project will be undertaken in phases
In Phases
- Under Phase-I, vulnerable areas and where most damage has occurred will be covered
- The rest of the fence will be replaced in the second phase
Environment
[1] No tourist entry into Odisha national park
Context
Man-crocodile conflict
What has happened?
- Bhitarkanika National Park authorities have imposed restrictions on entry of tourists into the park for three months to provide undisturbed environment for breeding by estuarine crocodiles
- The three-month ban period would remain in force from May 1 to August 1
Why
- Human interference disturbs the breeding animals and during this phase, the salt water crocodile often turns violent and attacks others
- Habitat of crocodiles is getting squeezed in 26 sq km of water-bodies within the national park
- Due to drop in salinity in water, outer periphery of the park turns unfavorable
- Of late, man-crocodile conflict has been a concern for authorities as crocodiles are often found straying into water-bodies inside human habitations
[2] Six tigers to be relocated to Buxa Tiger Reserve
Context
- Six tigers would be relocated to the Buxa Tiger Reserve (BTR) in north Bengal from neighbouring Assam as part of a plan for augmentation of the tiger population in the reserve which was approved by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA)
- Six tigers, two male and four female, would be relocated to BTR from neighbouring Assam
- The forest department had taken up tiger augmentation plan in Buxa-Jaldapara for which detailed project report was prepared in consultation with Wildlife Institute of India and Global Tiger Forum
- Many tiger experts have, however, raised questions about the relocation of tigers to Buxa saying that it would not yield any fruitful result unless villages were shifted from the core areas of the tiger reserve
Agriculture
[1] Drops of water better than the gush
Context
Drip-Irrigation beneficial than conventional systems
Drip Irrigation needed
- 13 major reservoirs are seeing 16% lesser water storage than the “drought year” last year – government policy seems to have finally caught on to the opportunities of drip irrigation
- Drip irrigation helps to not only cutback the usage of water but also increases the yield of crucial crops
- Investments into drip irrigation systems, while sizeable, appear to pay off quickly as farmers realise a sharp increase in yields, alongside more efficient water use
The Ramthal (Marol) Lift Irrigation Scheme
- Touted as the largest micro-irrigation project in Asia – is slated to be launched in June
- Over 15,000 farmers are expected to benefit
Use of less water
University of Agricultural Sciences-Bengaluru (UAS-B) has demonstrated that water-intensive sugarcane can be cultivated using 40-50% lesser water through drip irrigation
Editorials
[1] Kashmir’s unending tragedy
Context
Talks and de-escalation must go together — it is not wise to make them sequential
What has happened?
- The dreadful violence and low turnout in a by-election in Kashmir has again raised intense debate in New Delhi
- Unfortunately this debate has been mainly abusive rather than productive, and as a result it has masked the real issues
Cause of Alarm in the Valley
- Lack of a peace and reconciliation process promised by the ruling state govt.
- Lack of an honest and accountable administration
- Too Much reliance on armed forces or the police; Civil govt nowhere to be seen to de-escalate the situation
Measures for Peace
Talks are the only solution for peace
- Multitrack process:
- Combining humanitarian and political dialogue
- Security reforms
- Economic problem solving
- Tightening infiltration grid to distinguishing between first-time offenders and ring-leaders
- Implementation of Agenda for Alliance
Conclusion
- If the government wants to restore peace to the Valley, it cannot do it by force — talks with dissidents is the only option
- The demonisation of Kashmiris by ruling party spokespersons — all stone-pelters are traitors, does not give much hope
- Perhaps the Supreme Court will help
[2] Building holistic ties
Context
India must continue to engage Sri Lanka beyond mere transactional deals
- India and Sri Lanka have agreed to jointly revive a World War II era oil storage facility in the strategically located eastern port town and build infrastructure around it
- Traditional political concerns in Sri Lanka, where scores of Tamils and Muslims in the north and east are yet to return to normal lives eight years after the civil war ended
- As a long-time negotiator in Sri Lanka’s political question, India must continue to closely engage on these fronts and build a holistic relationship that transcends the mere transactional
- India should explore the potential for generating livelihoods in the war-battered northern economy where agriculture and fisheries, its key drivers, are facing a crisis
- Resolving the long-standing Palk Bay conflict between fishermen of both countries is central to this, and New Delhi must address the valid concern of Sri Lankan Tamil fishermen about incursions from Tamil Nadu into Sri Lankan waters
- Should avoid using the China lens to view Sri Lanka, respecting the country’s autonomy to engage with any willing partner
- The more India treats Sri Lanka as an equal partner, the stronger the relationship is likely to grow
[3] Reining in the sharks
Context
The Real Estate Act largely addresses consumer interests, but some creases are still to be ironed out
What has happened?
Real Estate (Regulation & Development) Act is now in effect
- The Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation recently notified 69 out of the 92 sections in total, which set the ball rolling for States to formulate, within six months, rules and regulations as statutorily mandated
- States will have to set up the Real Estate Regulatory Authority’s (RERA) and the Real Estate Appellate Tribunals and have only a maximum of a year from the coming into effect of the Act to do so
Key points
- Register with RERA: Requirement for developers to now register projects with RERA prior to any advertisement and sale
- Approval and Sanctions: Developers are also expected to have all sanction plans approved and regulatory clearances in place prior to commencement of sale
- Updates on the Website: The Act stipulates an electronic system, maintained on the website of RERA, where developers are expected to update on a quarterly basis the status of their projects, and submit regular audits and architectural reports
- Action for non-compliance: If there is non-compliance, RERA has the power to order up to three years imprisonment of the promoters of a project
- Separate Escrow Accounts: It requires developers to maintain separate escrow accounts in relation to each project and deposit 70% of the collections in such an account to ensure that funds collected are utilised only for the specific project
- Agents & brokers to register: The Act also requires real estate brokers and agents to register themselves with the regulator
Builder grievances
Grant Industry Status: The builder lobby has been demanding “industry” status for the real estate sector as it would help in the availability of bank loans
Failure of the Authorities: Real estate companies say that most delays are because of the failure of authorities to grant approvals/sanctions on time
Act silent on Force Majeure
While the Act addresses some of this, it does not deal with the concerns of developers regarding force majeure (acts of god outside their control) which result in a shortage of labour or issues on account of there not being a central repository of land titles/deeds
Implementation is the key
The onus is now on States to formulate rules and establish the regulatory authorities on time.
Conclusion
Finally, the new legislation is a welcome enactment. It will go a long way in assisting upstanding developers. More importantly, it will ease the burden on innocent home buyers who put their life’s savings into a real estate investment in the hope of having a roof over their head but often find their dreams come tumbling down
Ethics
[1] VIP culture must end, says PM
Context
Decision to ban the use of red beacons on vehicles from May 1
What has happened?
PM’s Mann ki Baat Address
Key Points
- Every Person is Important. Every person has value and importance
- VIP Mindset: VIP Culture needs to go from the mindset too
Cash incentives
- Showcased a scheme of cash rewards for those encouraging others to use the government’s Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) app for transactions.
- Under the scheme, a person can earn Rs. 10 every time he or she introduces BHIM to another person and that person undertakes three digital transactions. “If you make 20 people to do it in a day, you can earn Rs. 200 that day
The Indian Express
[1] Oil more slippery
Context
No-effect of global political environment on Oil Prices
Has geopolitics dropped out of the oil price equation?
Even due to escalating tensions between North Korea and US; Iran and US; China’s territorial Claims over South China Sea; Venezuela’s internal civil strife:
The US energy administration is forecasting that Brent crude will average only $54/barrel in 2017 and $57/barrel in 2018 and most oil traders are closing their positions in expectation that the market will indeed remain soft
Reasons:
- Electrical Vehicles gaining momentum
- Market is well supplied
- Significant New production
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