National IAS Academy Current Affairs: Contact: Hayabusa 2

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Jessie White
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1 1. Hayabusa 2 Topic: Issues related to science & technology Why in news: Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) launched asteroid- exploring spacecraft Hayabusa-2. : Hayabusa-2 mission is catered for Primitive asteroid called RYUGU. Hayabusa 2 is an asteroid sample-return mission operated by the Japanese space agency, JAXA. This mission mainly provides services like Images of the asteroid Measuring temperatures and magnetic fields Investigating mineral composition with microscopes. Why RYUGU? Asteroids are thought of have formed from the same material that made up the planets, they are a kind of fast-moving time capsule that can take us back to 4.6 billion years ago, to the infancy of our solar system. Asteroids like Ryugu have not been exposed to the same geological processes that caused erosion on Earth s rocks. Consequently, their surfaces are preserved and studying their composition could provide clues about the origin of life. If all goes well this space mission will start its journey to earth by Europe, Japan space agencies send spacecraft to Mercury Topic: Issues related to science and technology. Why in news: European space agency and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency together launched a joint space mission to Mercury. : This mission has been named as BepiColombo. Previously NASA had launched Messenger probe to mercury and this ended its journey in P a g e

2 Topic: Important statutory bodies. 3. National Investigating agency Introduction Over the past several years, India has been the victim of large scale terrorism sponsored from across the borders. There have been innumerable incidents of terrorist attacks, not only in the militancy and insurgency affected areas and areas affected by Left Wing Extremism, but also in the form of terrorist attacks and bomb blasts, etc., in various parts of the hinterland and major cities, etc. A large number of such incidents are found to have complex inter-state and international linkages, and possible connection with other activities like the smuggling of arms and drugs, pushing in and circulation of fake Indian currency, infiltration from across the borders, etc. keeping all these in view, it was felt that there was a need for setting up of an Agency at the Central level for investigation of offences related to terrorism and certain other Acts, which have national ramifications. Several experts and Committees, including the Administrative Reforms commission in its Report, had made recommendations for establishing such an Agency. After the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks central government thought to establish a central agency to combat terrorism and thus central government created NIA thorough an act. National Investigation Agency (NIA) is a central agency established by the Indian Government to combat terror in India. It acts as the Central Counter Terrorism Law Enforcement Agency. The agency is empowered to deal with terror related crimes across states without special permission from the states. The Agency came into existence with the enactment of the National Investigation Agency Act 2008 by the Parliament of India on 31 December P a g e

3 4. Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI) Topic: Important enforcement agencies Why in news? CBI filed a charge sheet on its special director in a bribery case. The Central Bureau of Investigation traces its origin to the Special Police Establishment (SPE) which was set up in 1941 by the Government of India. The functions of the SPE then were to investigate cases of bribery and corruption in transactions with the War & Supply Deptt. Of India during World War II. Superintendence of the S.P.E. was vested with the War Department. Even after the end of the War, the need for a Central Government agency to investigate cases of bribery and corruption by Central Government employees was felt. The Delhi Special Police Establishment Act was therefore brought into force in This Act transferred the superintendence of the SPE to the Home Department and its functions were enlarged to cover all departments of the Govt. of India. The jurisdiction of the SPE extended to all the Union Territories and could be extended also to the States with the consent of the State Government concerned. The DSPE acquired its popular current name, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), through a Home Ministry resolution dated Initially the offences that were notified by the Central Government related only to corruption by Central Govt. servants. In due course, with the setting up of a large number of public sector undertakings, the employees of these undertakings were also brought under CBI purview. Similarly, with the nationalisation of the banks in 1969, the Public Sector Banks and their employees also came within the ambit of the CBI. From 1965 onwards, the CBI has also been entrusted with the investigation of Economic Offences and important conventional crimes such as murders, kidnapping, terrorist crimes, etc., on a selective basis. The SPE initially had two Wings. They were the General Offences Wing (GOW) and Economic Offences Wing (EOW). The GOW dealt with cases of bribery and corruption involving the employees of Central Government and Public Sector Undertakings. As the CBI, over the years, established a reputation for impartiality and competence, It was therefore decided in 1987 to constitute two investigation divisions in the CBI, namely, Anti-Corruption Division and Special Crimes Division, the latter dealing with cases of conventional crime, besides economic offences. 3 P a g e

4 Important facts to know The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is the premier investigating agency of India. Operating under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions. The CBI is headed by the Director. The selection procedure of the director is as follows. To select a director to the CBI a committee has been formed under The Lokpal and Lokayuktas Act, 2013.The committee consists the following people: Prime Minister chairperson Leader of Opposition member Chief Justice of India or a Supreme Court Judge recommended by the Chief Justice member When making recommendations, the committee considers the views of the outgoing director. Based on recommendations of the committee the union government will appoint the director for CBI. 5. Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces(INF) treaty Topic: Important developments at international level Why in news? U.S. President confirmed that the U.S. would pull out of the Intermediate-range Nuclear Forces treaty. What was INF Treaty? The INF treaty, negotiated by then-president Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev and ratified by the US Senate in 1988, required elimination of short-range and intermediate-range nuclear and conventional missiles by both countries. The treaty required both countries to eliminate ground-launched ballistic and cruise missiles with ranges between approximately 300 and 3,400 miles. It did not cover sea-launched missiles. Offering protection to the United States European allies, the treaty was a watershed agreement between two nations at the centre of an arms race during the Cold War. 4 P a g e

5 Why Trump suddenly wanted to pull out from the treaty? This treaty abolishes a whole category of weapons and is a crucial element of our security. Now, this treaty is in danger because of Russia s actions. After years of denials, Russia recently acknowledged the existence of a new missile system, called 9M729. Russia has not provided any credible answers on this new missile. All allies agree that the most plausible assessment would be that Russia is in violation of the treaty. It is therefore urgent that Russia addresses these concerns in a substantial and transparent manner, said by the NATO Secretary General. Based on the above statement U.S. President Trump declared that U.S. would pull out from the treaty. What might be the future consequences? U.S. already declared that it would develop new weapons. This step would further crumble the international law and order and also leads to arms race. Russia may retaliate with developing new weapons that would challenge U.S. U.S. may impose further sanctions on Russia and ask other countries to minimise their ties with Russia which would affect India s interests with Russia. National IAS Academy , Lucky Paradise, 2nd floor, 8th 'F' main road, 22nd cross, Opp. ICICI bank, 3rd Block, Jayanagar, Bangalore P a g e

THE NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY BILL, 2008

TO BE INTRODUCED IN LOK SABHA Bill No. 75 of 2008 THE NATIONAL INVESTIGATION AGENCY BILL, 2008 ARRANGEMENT OF CLAUSES CHAPTER I PRELIMINARY CLAUSES 1. Short title, extent and application. 2. Definitions.