Current affairs- April 14, 2016
Indian, Germany sign agreement to rejuvenate Ganga
India and Germany have signed an agreement to adopt and replicate,
wherever possible, the river basin management strategies of the European rivers
Rhine and Danube to rejuvenate the river Ganga.
Objective of the agreement:
The objective of the agreement is to enable responsible
stakeholders at national and state level to apply integrated river basin
management approach for the rejuvenation of the river Ganga. This will be based
on Indo-German knowledge exchange and practical experience on strategic river
basin management issues, effective data management system and public
engagement.
Key facts:
- The agreement was signed between the ministry of water resources and Ganga rejuvenation of India and the German International Cooperation (GIZ) of Germany under the ‘Namami Ganga’– a flagship programme of the government with a renewed impetus to decrease river pollution and conserve the country’s national river.
- The project duration will be of three years (from 2016 to 2018) where the German contribution would be to the tune of Rs 22.5 crore.
- Though initial actions will be focussed on the stretch of the river in Uttarakhand, it will later be expanded to other Ganga states.
- The project will closely cooperate with other national and international initiatives, including Indo-German bilateral projects like Support to National Urban Sanitation Policy (SNUSP) and Sustainable Environment-friendly Industrial Production (SEIP).
Namami Gange Programme:
The Union government approved “Namami Gange” Program in May 2015.
It integrates the efforts to clean and protect the Ganga river in a
comprehensive manner.
Focus of the programme:
Among other things, the programme will focus on pollution
abatement interventions namely Interception, diversion & treatment of
wastewater flowing through the open drains through bio-remediation /
appropriate in-situ treatment / use of innovative technologies.
Implementation:
- The program would be implemented by the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG), and its state counterpart organizations i.e., State Program Management Groups (SPMGs).
- In order to improve implementation, a three-tier mechanism has been proposed for project monitoring comprising of a) High level task force chaired by Cabinet Secretary assisted by NMCG at national level, b) State level committee chaired by Chief Secretary assisted by SPMG at state level and c) District level committee chaired by the District Magistrate.
- The program emphasizes on improved coordination mechanisms between various Ministries/Agencies of Central and State governments.
Other details:
- The program has a budget outlay of Rs. 20,000 crore for the next 5 years.
- Under this programme, the focus of the Government is to involve people living on the banks of the river to attain sustainable results.
- The programme also focuses on involving the States and grassroots level institutions such as Urban Local Bodies and Panchayati Raj Institutions in implementation.
Proposals on Biology of childhood under nutrition
invited by DBT
The department of Biotechnology (DBT) of the union Ministry of
Science and Technology has called for proposals on Biology of childhood
undernutrition and healthy growth with an emphasis on linear growth
retardation.
Background:
Childhood under nutrition is a major national concern, which needs
urgent remedies to optimise our human resource development. Under nutrition,
especially linear growth retardation, probably occurs through several
inter-related or independent mechanisms. However, the precise biological or
pathogenic pathways are unknown and require optimization for designing of
public health intervention packages.
What has the DBT said?
The DBT has called for research and development proposals in
thematic areas such as measuring under nutrition, especially biomarkers and
functional correlates, genetic and epigenetic influences on healthy growth,
endocrine influences facilitating linear growth, nutrition requirements and
dietary composition for healthy growth among others.
- This call for proposals is intended to enhance our understanding to facilitate healthy growth in children at the population level.
- Proposals can be submitted by clinicians, scientists, inter-disciplinary groups working in recognised R&D institutions. The proposals can be submitted online on the DBT website by May 6.
Cabinet nod to adopt statute of South Asia
Wildlife Enforcement Network to check wildlife crimes
The Union Cabinet has given its nod for India adopting the statute
of the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) which will help in checking cross border wildlife crimes.
- The approval allows the country to become a formal member of SAWEN in order to strengthen ties with the member countries in controlling the trans-boundary wildlife crime through communication, coordination, collaboration, capacity building and cooperation in the region.
What is SAWEN?
SAWEN is a regional network comprises eight countries in
South Asia –Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India,
Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
- It aims at working as a strong regional intergovernmental body for combating wildlife crimes by attempting common goals and approaches for combating illegal trade in the region.
Significance of SAWEN:
The South Asia region is very vulnerable to illegal traffic and
wildlife crimes due to presence of precious biodiversity and large markets as
well as traffic routes for wildlife products in the region. The collaboration
in harmonising as well as enforcing the wildlife protection in the region is
considered very important for effective conservation of biodiversity.
How will this statute benefit India?
Now, India along with other member countries will take initiatives
to bring “harmonisation and standardisation” in laws and policies to conserve
fauna and flora and will also document the trend of poaching, illegal trade and
related threats to the natural biodiversity.
- This will also strengthen institutional responses to combat wildlife crime by promoting research and information sharing, training and capacity building, technical support, sharing experiences and outreach and to encourage member countries to prepare and implement their national action plans in curbing wildlife crime.
HC upholds legal provision against foreign tax
havens
The Madras High Court has upheld the Constitutional validity of
Section 94A(1) of the Income Tax Act, 1961 which empowers the government to
declare any country, with which it lacks effective exchange of information, a ‘notified jurisdictional
area.’ Section 94A(1) was inserted into the Act in 2011 through an
amendment.
- This is being seen as a major boost to the Centre’s efforts to prevent infusion of black money through shell companies in foreign tax havens.
What the Court says?
The insertion of Section 94A(1) did not amount to disrespecting
international bilateral treaties to avoid double taxation.
Background:
These observations were made by the court while dismissing a batch
of writ petitions challenging this provision.
World output faces risk of 3.9 % drop by 2021
The decline in oil prices has helped countries such as India
improve their external positions, but low commodity prices have kept risks
elevated in emerging market economies, the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
said in its latest Global Financial Stability Report.
- The financial stability report assesses the risks faced by the global financial system and the current edition surveys the issues that surfaced since October 2015.
Important observations made in the report:
- The spill-over effects of the growing uncertainty about China’s economy and setbacks to growth and confidence in advanced economies are other factors undermining global financial stability. These developments tightened financial conditions, reduced risk appetite, raised credit risks and stymied balance sheet repair.
- Global output could decline 3.9% by 2021 if action isn’t taken to address the risks faced by the financial system.
The main message of this report is that additional measures are
needed to deliver a more balanced and potent policy mix for improving the
growth and inflation outlook and securing financial stability. In the absence
of such measures, market turmoil may recur. However, if timely measures are
taken, world output could expand by 1.7%, relative to the baseline, by 2018.
Suggestions made by the report:
The report identifies a window of opportunity in the current
economic recovery to deal with what it calls a “triad of global challenges,”
namely, the legacy issues in advanced economies, vulnerabilities in emerging
markets and greater systemic market liquidity risks. IMF suggests that in
advanced economies, banks must deal with bad assets and other legacy issues.
Global Connectivity Index
Huawei has announced its third Global Connectivity Index report during the Global Analyst Summit 2016 in Shenzhen, China. The
report sheds light on various global improvements in the field of internet
connectivity.
- In terms of numbers, United States, Singapore and Sweden top the rankings.
India’s performance:
- India with a GCI score of 30 ranks number 44 in the report, and is seen as starter in the world of ICT deployment.
- The report notes that India may not have ranked well, but the situation might change rapidly in 2017. The Indian government’s Digital India initiative is driving growth, and improved broadband penetration. The report says the initiative will enable last mile connectivity, bringing many people online for the first time, and enables a whole new opportunity for telecom operators.
About GCI:
The 2016 Global Connectivity Index (GCI) is a study that
benchmarks where a country stands within its journey to connectivity.
- This was the third Global Connectivity Index report announced by the Chinese multinational networking and telecommunications equipment and services company Huawei, during the Global Analyst Summit 2016 in Shenzhen, China.
- The report measures the growth of various global improvements in the field of internet connectivity.
- The GCI findings are sourced from 50 countries that, in total account for 90% of global GDP and 78% of the global population, on investment and deployment of Information and Communications Technology (ICT).
Akash Missile Test Fired For Second Consecutive
Day
India’s indigenously developed surface-to-air Akash missile was recently test fired from the Integrated Test
Range (ITR) at Chandipur near Balasore in Odisha.
Key facts:
- Akash is a medium range surface-to-air anti-aircraft defence system developed by the DRDO as part of the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme.
- Akash missile has a strike range of 25 km and can carry warhead of 60 kg.
- Akash is powered by Ramjet-rocket propulsion system, which renders thrust for the missile to intercept the target at supersonic speed without any retardation.
- It can fly at supersonic speed ranging from Mach 2.8 to 3.5 and can engage aerial targets up to a range of approximately 25 km.
Cabinet nod for India-UAE MoU to prevent human
trafficking
The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing of the
Memorandum of Understanding between India and United Arab Emirate to prevent
human trafficking.
Key facts:
- Under this MoU a joint task force with representatives from both sides would be constituted to monitor its implementation.
- This MoU will strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries and increase bilateral cooperation on issues of prevention, rescue, recovery and repatriation related to human trafficking, especially of women and children, expeditiously.
- The MoU will strengthen cooperation to prevent all forms of human trafficking and ensure speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organised crime syndicates in either country.
- It will ensure taking preventive measures that would eliminate human trafficking in women and children and in protecting the rights of victims of trafficking.
- Anti-trafficking cells and task forces will work on both sides to prevent human trafficking. Police and other concerned authorities will work in close cooperation and exchange information which can be used to interdict human traffickers.
- The repatriation of victims would be done as expeditiously as possible and the home country will undertake the safe and effective re-integration of the victims.
Facts
- Sushila Karki has become the first female acting Chief Justice of Nepal’s Supreme Court.
- India and South Korea have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation and mutual assistance in development of ports. The MoU is expected to help both countries to encourage and facilitate development of ports, port-related industries and maritime relationship. It will also enhance cooperation in the tasks of sharing of technology, experiences in the fields of port development and operation, exchange of information on construction, building, engineering and related aspects in the field of port development, among others.
