04-Sep-17, Monday. Prashant Mavani, Current Affairs Analyst MSc in Management, University of Surrey (U.K.)

Transcription

1 04-Sep-17, Monday Prashant Mavani, Current Affairs Analyst MSc in Management, University of Surrey (U.K.)

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3 Index General Knowledge with concepts Important Topics Focus Topic: Cabinet Reshuffle

4 Flood waters enter newer areas in Dhemaji district (TH) qrivers in Assam are flowing above the danger level. q149 villages are under water q5500 hectares of crop areas inundated. qthis happens because of the nature of Himalayan rivers a) Rivers like Ganga, Indus, Brahmaputra originate from Himalayas b) They are perennial i.e. they carry water throughout the year. c) Snowfall in winter, rainfall in monsoon, and melting of ice in summer keeps them flowing d) Mountain routes: Erosion and deposition activities e) Any sort of excess in season turns them: from a boon to a curse

5 World s first glue qquestion in prelims: Considering, Neanderthals.. qoptions: Neanderthals used glue for making weapons? qneanderthals made the world s oldest known glue 2 lakh years ago qthey used to extract tar from birch bark. qbirch bark were used in Vedic India too. qscientists have found that a Neanderthal spear has a glue that fixed the point to the shaft. qresearches conducted by University of Leiden, Netherlands

6 Nepal-India qimportant for State PSC exams qsurya Kiran, a joint military exercise begins qlocation: Nepal qobjectives: 1. Counter-terrorism 2. Forest fighting operations q300 troops from both sides will participate in the exercise. qboth countries have age old military relations.

7 Plant to treat tiger bites should be researched (TH) qkolkata, West Bengal qa rare plant, locally known as Harkochkata (Acanthus iflicifolius), is used by local people of Sundarbans to treat tiger bites. qdr Punarbasu Chaudhuri, HoD, Department of Environment Science, University of Calcutta, said that government should include the plant in its list of plants for research and commercial use. Odisha villages grow back their forest qvillage women of western Odisha district have been selling leaves of Siali, which is used for making disposable plates, for their income. qnow they are also growing medicinal plants for extra income. qthey are getting orders from domestic and international traders.

8 RBI Governor (BS) qformer RBI Governor, Mr Raghuram Rajan has highlighted in his book I Do What I Do, how bureaucracy tired to erode the power of RBI Governor. qrbi Governor is appointed by the PM in consultation with FM. qthe salary of RBI Governor is at par with that of Cabinet secretary. qcurrent RBI Governor, Mr Urjit Patel is running the show in the most difficult year in RBI s history. qlets check the timeline

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10 (Courtesy: Business Standard)

11 No separate labour rights for trans-genders (TH) qthe Labour Ministry of India, prepared, a Wages Code Bill in qaims of the bill: To rationalise the country s 44 labour laws into four codes covering all the regulations pertaining to 1. Wages 2. Industrial relations 3. Social security and safety 4. Health and working conditions q It has provisions prohibiting discrimination against transgender persons in the payment of wages. qthis reform has been shelved, as Law Ministry has shown reservation regarding it. qthe Law Ministry cited the General Clauses Act of 1897, according to which transgender fall within the definition of person. So it says there is no need to add a separate clause for them.

12 No separate labour rights for trans-genders (TH) q Supreme Court (SC) in 2014: For the first time it recognised transgender persons as the 3 rd gender. qsc asked the Centre and the States to give them equal opportunities in education and employment. qeven the voter s id card issued by Election Commission of India have option for third gender in it. q Generally speaking, Indian society has ostracised the third gender community, particularly since the British Raj. qindian history has many evidences of third gender person holding a high administrative post in various kingdoms. qwe find mention of third gender person in Mahabharata too. qa right person, with the right skill and talent, with the right pay is the basic mantra of successful Human Resource policy.

13 Environment Pollution 1. National Green Tribunal (NGT) has demanded proof from 4 states qngt directed the governments of Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, to submit specific proof/s of them incentivising farmers from refraining to burn crop residue. qstubble burning: Causing pollution in New Delhi qngt has fixed environmental fines on farmers conducting such practises. 2. Andhra Pradesh: 22 imitation jeweller firms given notice q22 such firms are found to be violating norms to treat effluent water. qthe water is found to be containing toxic heavy metals such as chromium and lead. 3. Pollution impact solar power success qit is diminishing India s capacity to harness power from sun qsmog and dust are main culprit: Found in air and on solar panels qestimated 3,900 MW energy is lost i.e. 6 times the capacity of its largest solar farm that has 2.5 million panels.

14 BRICS summit (TH + ToI) qpm Modi is in China for 9 th BRICS summit. qbrics background qthe term BRIC was coined by Goldman Sachs Group s chief economist Jim O Neill in qjim saw Brazil, Russia, India and China as emerging markets, in which investors could put their money. qa 2003 report said, if all goes well, then this group can beat western dominance in financial world. qbric summit: side line of 2006 UNGA qfirst independent summit took place in Russia: 2009 qin 2010: South Africa joined it and then it became BRICS q Important facts: q Population: 3.1 billion i.e. 42% of the global population q GDP: $16,663 billion i.e. 22% of the global GDP q Exports: 16% of the world q Imports: 15% of the world

15 BRICS summit qpm Modi will have one to one meet with President Xi. qmr Xi said peace and development and not conflict and confrontation should be the security template of five emerging countries. qmr Xi also observed that people around the world, want peace and cooperation, not conflict and confrontation.

16 N.Korea tests hydrogen bomb, sparks outrage qit has tested a hydrogen bomb which can be mounted on a missile. qit has declared its biggest ever nuclear detonation a perfect success. qthe world reacted with anger to the 6 th nuclear test of the country. qusa monitored a 6.3 magnitude tremor near the NK s main testing site. qdonald Trump has threatened to cut off trade ties with countries dealing with North Korea. qunited Nations nuclear watchdog IAEA, has termed the test as extremely regrettable act. qindia said that it remains concerned about the proliferation of nuclear and missile technologies which has adversely impacted its national security.

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18 I-T dept finds new shell firms (BS) qi-t department has identified 2,138 firms that deposited unaccounted cash during the demonetisation period. qthis is a fresh clampdown on shell companies. qi-t department has found deposits of Rs 1,321 crore so far and expect the amount to swell to Rs 5,000 crore. qthe new data also have details of 3,676 directors and associated entry operators. qtax official are directed to conduct search, survey and seizure on these companies as a part of Operation Clean Money. qin last three years, I-T dept has identified 1,155 shell companies.

19 The Hindu Editorial Analysis

20 Economic Outlook Still Cloudy qeconomic data April17-Jun17: GDP qfrom past 6 quarters the growth rate has gone down qwhy to worry? 1. Inflation has been moderate and recently touched 1.5%. 2. Trade and fiscal deficits are moderate and manageable: This means foreign exchange are not eaten away 3. Interest rate cut 4. Inflow of Dollars: In financial markets and direct investment is at its peak. 5. Oil prices are down 6. Normal monsoon

21 Economic Outlook Still Cloudy qeconomic Survey Part II: projects growth rate between %. The CEA says its going to be under 7%. qthis means loss of 1% growth rate potential qthis translates into a loss of Rs 1.5 lakh crore of national income. qthis means millions of jobs are not created. qgst rollout: downward movement was caused supposedly by suspension of manufacturing activities. qcredit industry shrinking qprivate investment is the need of the hour qit is growing barely at 1.5% rate qit should be clocking at double digit rate qdespite initiatives: Make in India, Ease of Doing Business, access to electricity has expanded, infrastructure has improved. There are huge opportunities in Smart Cities, Digital India, Housing for All etc.

22 Economic Outlook Still Cloudy qtwin balance sheet problem: Corporate and Banks qrupee getting stronger: Since Jan2017 it is 7% stronger qbad for exports qgood for imports qperhaps in the coming quarters we may see a rebound. qresults of big structural reforms (GST, insolvency code, new monetary framework, Aadhaar linkages) will be visible in medium terms

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24 Investing in the ecosystem q PM Modi during 3 rd Asia ministerial conference on tiger conversation in 2016 said a quote by Buddha that The forest is a peculiar organism of unlimited kindness. It affords protection to all beings, offering shade even to the axe-man who destroys it. qnatural ecosystem = natural capital qindia natural resource q11% of world s flora and fauna qone of the 17 most ecologically diverse countries qestimated $1.7 trillion: timber, fuel wood, carbon sequestration qrise in economic activities are resulting in decline of natural capital. qthis will impact quality of life qfuture inefficiencies

25 Investing in the ecosystem q Earth Overshoot Day: This year it was observed on 2 nd Aug. qtotal annual resource consumption for the year overshoots the earth s capacity to regenerate it. q9 safe zones identified by scientists qif we cross them, then we risk a irreversible change qwe have crossed 4/9 boundaries q Climate Change q Loss of biosphere integrity q Land system change q Altered biogeochemical cycles: phosphorus and nitrogen qbusiness needs widen its valuation and risk management which should include natural capital.

26 Investing in the ecosystem qbenefits for business qmitigate the risks that are associated with natural capital extinction qit will work as a push-pull factor for inventing new technologies q E.g. Using technology, California based company, consumed less water and hence saved $1,300 on water bills during drought year. q Israel: Water Management q Ladakh: Nothing is wasted

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28 Back to the ballot qkenyan Supreme Court has annulled the presidential election outcome. qviolence are common in Kenya during election q20 people died this time qin 2007, more than 1000 died qmany politicians faced trial at International Criminal Court qelection Commission has a bad reputation qindian diaspora have considerable property and contribution in Kenyan economy. qafrican countries are infamous for its leaders holding the post for longest period of time.

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31 Celebrate, but introspect qdevendra Jhajharia qjavelin thrower qrio Paralympics 2016: Gold q1 st paralympian to receive highest sporting honour: Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna qdeaflympics, Turkey q46 hearing-impaired athletes protested: No one came to receive them qthey got 5 medals including 1 gold. qrio Summer Paralympics were not even broadcasted on Indian television qkanchanmala Pande a blind athlete had to beg in Berlin to take part in the Para-Swimming Championship. qpande won a silver and qualified for the World Championship qreflection of society: how we treat divyangs

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33 Courtesy: Times of India

34 Focus Topic Perform or Perish qthe Constitution of India provided for a Parliamentary system of Government with Cabinet as the real executive. qthe Cabinet is headed by the Prime Minister is responsible for the entire administration of the Government of India. qtotal number of Council of Minister should not exceed 15% of the total strength of the Lok Sabha (including PM). qpresident appoints Ministers, on the advice of PM. qmember of Lok Sabha or Rajya Sabha can become Minister. qa person who is not a MP can also be made Minister, the only condition is that within 6months, he/she has to become a MP (either via election or nomination).

35 Focus Topic Perform or Perish qelevation qnirmala Sitharaman qpiyush Goyal qdharmendra Pradhan qmukhtar Abbaz Naqvi qshown the door qbandaru Dattatreya qrajiv PratapRudy qkalraj Mishra qnew entrants q4 from civil services qtwo out of them are not even MPs.

36 Focus Topic Perform or Perish qpoor performers are out and better performers are elevated qtransition period of Indian politics qnone of the 4 ministers promoted to the Cabinet rank are political heavy weights qmoving away from traditional practice of focusing on vote, the government is now moving towards results and outcomes. qfour former civil servants qinterestingly they are placed outside their areas of expertise qnew experiment: Administration experience + Outsider s perspective qbest person for the job: Mantra of Modiji

37 Perform or Perish qreasons q2019 General Elections are around the corner qgoi wants to deliver the promises it made qmodi s New India Team qflagship programmes have not picked up: Make in India, Smart Cities, Clean India Mission etc qbiggest surprise qnirmala Sitharaman is the new Defence Minister. qshe is the only women to become a full time Defence Minister. qthis is also the first time in the Indian history to have 2 women in Cabinet Committee on Security qgood performer qnow all elevated members have to perform to turn India into a New India

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