Current affairs- June 3, 2016
India Joined Global
ballistic missile regime
Strengthening
worldwide attempt to contain the spread of ballistic missiles India joined a global regime
against ballistc missile proliferation but made it clear that this would not
have any impact on National security as well as its missile programme.
About HCoC:
Hague Code of Conduct(HCoC) is a global ballistic missile proliferation regime established in 2002. It is a voluntary legally non-binding multilateral body aimed at preventing the spread of ballistic missiles that can
deliver weapons of mass destruction.
- It is the only multilateral code in the area of disarmament which has been adopted over the last years. It is the only normative instrument to verify the spread of ballistic missiles.
- The HCOC does not ban ballistic missiles, but it does call for restraint in their production, testing, and export. Presently, there are 137 signatories.
- The Code is meant to supplement the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) but its membership is not restricted. Under the Code, States make politically binding commitments to curb the proliferation of WMD-capable ballistic missiles and to exercise maximum restraint in developing, testing, and deploying such missiles.
- Given the similarities between the technologies used in ballistic missiles and civilian rockets, the Code also introduces transparency measures such as annual declarations and pre-launch notifications regarding ballistic missile and space launch programs.
- Austria is the administrative Central Contact of the Code, coordinating the information exchange under HCOC.
India, U.S. to share data on terrorists
The Home Ministry signed an agreement to join the global terror database maintained by the Terrorist Screening Center (TSC) of the U.S.
- An arrangement between the authorised governmental agencies of the Government of India and the Government of the United States of America for exchange of terrorist screening information was signed .
- Under this arrangement, both sides will give each other access to terrorism screening information through designated contact points, subject to domestic laws and regulations
- The U.S. has already finalised such agreements with 30 countries and the Terrorist Screening Center has details of 11,000 terror suspects on its database, including nationality, date of birth, photos, finger prints (if any) and passport number.
The arrangement was signed by Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi and Richard Verma, Ambassador of the United States of America to India.
UGC new guidelines on Sexual harassment
The UGC has notified the guidelines to be followed in all institutions of higher education.
Details:
- Institutions will have to set up an internal complaints committee, in which at least half the members are women.
- To ensure the committee’s autonomy, it has been laid down that no administrative official — like Vice-Chancellor or Registrar — will be its members.
Consequences:
- Consequences of non-compliance are serious.
- An institution could face withdrawal of declaration of fitness to receive grants under section l2 B of the UGC Act, 1956;
- Removal of its name from the list maintained by the Commission;
- withholding of allocated grant; and
- Being declared ineligible to be considered for special assistance programmes of the Commission.
Sexual harassment:
- The regulations define sexual harassment in very exhaustive terms. It ranges from physical contact to verbal or non-verbal conduct of a sexual nature.
- They give women students, employees, interns and apprentices protection on the campus even from a visitor to the institution
Background:
- The regulations are based on the Saksham report that included inputs from open forums conducted throughout India after the MHRD formed a task force on the issue post the Delhi gang rape
- The Supreme Court, in the Vishakha judgment in 1997, mandated internal committees at workplaces to look into sexual harassment cases.
PM seeks feedback on
government portal
PM seeks feedback on government portal ratings
have been solicited by the PM on 15 of his pet projects.
Ranking right there at the top, with an average of 4.6 stars
are the initiatives taken by the government on rail connectivity and
modernization.
Star Performers:
- Railways: 4.6 stars
- Roads & Highways : 4.55 stars
Lowest performers:
- Swachh Bharat and Education: 3.9 stars
- Initiatives on getting back on black oney: 3.5 stars
Singapore Arbitration Centre
to open India office
The
Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC) is all set to establish a representative office at the Gujarat International Finance Tec-City (GIFT
City) to resolve international commercial disputes.
Background:
SIAC
has signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with Gujarat International Finance
Tec-City Company Limited (GIFTCL) and GIFT SEZ Limited (GIFT SEZ).
Details:
- SIAC will establish a representative office at GIFT City to promote its international arbitration services to Indian users. Indian parties are among the top five foreign users of SIAC in the last five years. It was the top foreign user of SIAC in 2013 and 2015.
- As per the terms of the agreement, GIFTCL, GIFT SEZ and SIAC will collaborate to promote the use of arbitration, mediation and other dispute resolution mechanisms, including the innovative ‘Arb-Med-Arb’ service offered by the SIAC and the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC).
- An international arbitration centre or IAC is a centre where disputes arising out of commercial agreements from sectors like insurance, shipping, construction, private equity and other trades are handled.
- Arbitration is different from court litigation and is typically less time-consuming as it is done in private between the lawyers representing the aggrieved parties.
Arb-Med-Arb:
- Arb-Med-Arb is a process where a dispute is first referred to arbitration before mediation is attempted. If parties are able to settle their dispute through mediation, their mediated settlement may be recorded as a consent award.
- The consent award is generally accepted as an arbitral award, and, subject to any local legislation and/or requirements, is generally enforceable in approximately 150 countries under the New York Convention.
- If parties are unable to settle their dispute through mediation, they may continue with the arbitration proceedings.
Icrisat
announces DNA sequencing of groundnut
International Crop Research
Institute for the Semi-Arid and Tropics (Icrisat) announced a scientific breakthrough
on the DNA sequencing of the groundnut.
Details:
- It is expected to help in developing the improved groundnut varieties with enhanced traits such as increased pod and oil yield, drought and heat tolerance, and greater disease resistance.
- A team of 51 scientists from 9 institutes in China, India, the US and Australia, including the ICRISAT have decoded the complete DNA sequencing of the ancestor of the groundnut, the diploid A-genome.
- The other significant traits this could help develop include aflatoxin-free, nutrition-rich and allergen-free varieties. The breakthrough also provides insights into geocarpy - a unique reproductive process of the groundnut, oil biosynthesis and allergens.
Person in News
Tom Alter:
- He has resigned from his post as head of the acting department in the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII).
- He is a noted actor
Raja
Krishnamoorthi:
- Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Indian-American Democrat in fray for election to the U.S. House of Representatives.
- He has won a crucial endorsement from President Barack Obama.
- Mr. Krishnamoorthi is in the fray for this year’s open-seat race in the 8th Congressional District of Illinois that includes west and northwest Chicago suburbs.
Facts
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Govy of India and U.S. was signed to enhance copoperation in energy security, Clean energy, and Climate change.
- Govt issued an advisory to make it mandatory for users of matrimonial websites to provide an Identity Proof before creating an account on Match-making portals.
RBI- Cyber Security Policy
RBI told commercial banks to
immediately put in place a cyber security policy, duly approved by the board,
in the wake of increasing cyber attacks in the financial system.
- Banks should immediately put in place a cyber-security policy elucidating the strategy containing an appropriate approach to combat cyber threats given the level of complexity of business and acceptable levels of risk.
- It is essential to enhance the resilience of the banking system by improving the current defences in addressing cyber risks
Framework:
- Banks have been asked to formulate a Cyber Crisis Management Plan (CCMP) which should be a part of the overall board-approved strategy.
CCMP:
- CCMP should address the following four aspects—Detection, Response, Recovery and Containment.
- The regulator has emphasised that the cyber security policy should be distinct and separate from the broader IT policy/IS Security policy so that it can highlight the risks from cyber threats and the measures to address or mitigate these risks.
Sports
Pro Kabaddi Ethics
Committee:
Pro
Kabaddi, promoted by Star India and Mashal Sports has announced the formation
of an Ethics & Governance Committee in a move to adopt and ensure
incorporation of best practices with immediate effect.
Functions:
- Governance,
- Anti-Corruption,
- Anti-Racism,
- Anti-Doping
- Code of Conduct.
Why
it is necessary?
- In order to uphold the highest standards of the game, this Committee is empowered with the authority to impose disciplinary measures in the event of violations of the aforementioned framework of rules.
Members:
The Ethics & Governance Committee
comprises of eminent members across public and administrative services.
- It includes the
- Honourable Justice A. P. Shah (Retd.),
- Mr. A. N. Roy IPS (Retd.),
- Mr. Deepak Jacob,
- Mr. Charu Sharma and
- Pro Kabaddi League Commissioner, Mr. Anupam Goswami.
