Daily Current affairs - May 2nd, 2018 for all competitive exams
Union Cabinet has given the approval to
accede to the Protocol under World Health Organization (WHO) Framework
Convention on tobacco control to eliminate illicit trade in tobacco products.
- It will be applicable to both smoking
and chewing or smokeless tobacco (SLT) forms as negotiated
and adopted under Article 15 of the World Health Organization Framework
Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC). India is a party to WHO
FCTC.
The WHO Framework Convention on
Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) is the first international public health
treaty negotiated under the auspices of the WHO. The objective of FCTC
is to provide a framework for supply and demand reduction measures for
tobacco control at the national, regional and global levels.
|
Government releases draft
new Telecom policy
The government has released the draft of
the new Telecom policy named National Digital Communications Policy,
2018 by the Department of Telecom (DoT).
- The policy aims at creating 40 lakh new jobs by
2022, attracting 100 billion US dollars investment in the sector
and ensuring broadband coverage at 50 mbps for every citizen.
- The draft proposes one Gbps connectivity to all Gram
Panchayats by 2020 and 10 Gbps by 2022.
The draft policy has outlined three major missions which it aims to achieve
by 2022:
Connect India under which it aims to create robust digital communications.
- Propel India under which the government aims to
harness the power of emerging digital technologies, including 5G,
artificial intelligence (AI), Internet Of Things (IoT), etc.
- Secure India which aims to safeguard the digital
sovereignty of India with a focus on ensuring individual autonomy and
choice, data ownership, privacy and security.
- Fibre First Initiative: The
policy aims to implement a ‘Fibre First Initiative’ to take fibre to the
home by according telecom optic fibre cables the status of public utility.
DNA profiling Bill
The Supreme Court has considered the submission of the Centre that it would
move a Bill in the upcoming Parliament session for DNA profiling to enable
authorities to maintain records of unidentified and unclaimed dead bodies or
missing persons.
- The government was responding to a PIL petition
filed by NGO Lok Niti Foundation in 2012 on the use of DNA profiling for
identifying unclaimed bodies, especially to match them with old cases of
missing persons.
Human DNA Profiling Bill:
- The Centre’s Human DNA Profiling Bill, 2015, was
prepared by the Department of Biotechnology and the Hyderabad-based Centre
for DNA-Fingerprinting and Diagnostics. Several organisations and
individuals, however, raised concerns that the bill gave sweeping powers
to government to mine the database and use it for purposes beyond just
solving crime.
Highlights of the Human DNA Profiling Bill:
- The bill proposes to allow collection of samples
from private parts of human body for DNA profiling and data preservation
with the approval of a regulatory body.
- It suggests that a National DNA Profiling Board and
a National DNA Bank be set up in Hyderabad, with every state having a
regional DNA data bank. The DNA Data Bank would maintain records of
samples found at crime scenes, or from suspects, offenders, missing
persons, volunteers, etc.
- The bill also makes it clear that no DNA Laboratory
shall undertake DNA profiling without the prior approval of the DNA Board.
Last year, the Law Commission of India, in its 271st report, prepared the
draft Bill named The DNA Based Technology (Use and Regulation) Bill, 2017
after examining various judicial pronouncements and constitutional
provisions.
It however had also flagged that privacy concerns and the ethics involved
in this scientific collection of data were very high. The Commission said the
procedure for DNA profiling, if given statutory recognition, should be done
legitimately as per constitutional provisions.
|
Highlights of the DNA Based Technology (Use and
Regulation) Bill, 2017:
DNA profiling Board: Constitution of a DNA
Profiling Board, a statutory body to undertake functions such as laying down
procedures and standards to establish DNA laboratories and grant
accreditation to such laboratories; and advising the concerned
ministries/departments of the Central and state governments on issues
relating to DNA laboratories.
|
NCERT issues cybersafety
guidelines
Allowing only authorised people to
access computer labs, banning use of USB flash drives, blocking pop-ups and
keeping a check on appearance of new and unfamiliar icons on computers are
among the cybersecurity and safety guidelines issued to schools and parents by
the NCERT.
- The National Council of Education Research and
Training (NCERT) has sent guidelines defining the role of teachers as well
as parents in promoting safe, legal, and ethical use of the Internet by
students.
- The students should be taught to not engage or argue
with cyberbullies as it might encourage even worse behaviour. They should
use the built-in filters to prevent further harassment through e-mail or
instant messaging by cyberbullies
- The Council has asked schools to introduce courses
and activities for students and teachers on major aspects of cyber
security and safety.
SC admits petition to
quash Section 377
Seventeen years after he was imprisoned
for his sexual orientation and efforts to help the LGBT community, the Supreme
Court admitted the petition of a man to quash the “tyranny” of Section 377 of
the IPC, which criminalises homosexuality.
- Arif Jafar, who introduced himself to the
Supreme Court as a “gay man and a citizen of India,” said the brutal
shutting down of his peer support programme evoked a “chilling effect” on
similar interventions to prevent and control HIV among men having sex with
men. Sexual orientation and identity cannot be the basis of denying a
person their inherent dignity.
Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code dating back to
1861,introduced during the British rule of India (modelled on the Buggery Act
of 1533) criminalises sexual activities against the order of nature,
including homosexual sexual activities.
The section was decriminalized with respect to sex
between consenting adults by the High Court of Delhi on July 2009. That
judgement was overturned by the Supreme Court of India on 11 December 2013
with the Court holding that amending or repealing Section 377 should be a matter
left to Parliament, not the judiciary.
On 6 February 2016, the final hearing of the curative
petition submitted by the Naz Foundation and others came for hearing in the
Supreme Court. The three-member bench headed by then the Chief Justice of
India T. S. Thakur said that all the 8 curative petitions submitted will be
reviewed afresh by a five-member constitutional bench.
On 24 August 2017, the Supreme Court ruled that the
Right to Privacy was a fundamental right, called for equality and condemned
discrimination, stated that the protection of sexual orientation lies at the
core of the fundamental rights and that the rights of the LGBT population are
real and founded on constitutional doctrine.
|
Supreme Court asks high courts to fast-track trial
under POCSO Act
Supreme Court has issued a slew of directions to all high courts of the
country regarding trial in sexual assault cases involving children.
Guidelines:
- All high courts must ensure that the cases of sexual
assault of children are fast-tracked and decided by special courts.
- High courts should instruct the trial courts not to
grant unnecessary adjournments during trial of cases under the Protection
of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.
- High courts may constitute a committee of three
judges to regulate and monitor the trials of sexual assault cases of
children.
- The State police chiefs should constitute special
task forces to investigate cases.
The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO Act) 2012 was
formulated in order to effectively address sexual abuse and sexual
exploitation of children. The Act casts the police in the role of child
protectors during the investigative process. Thus, the police personnel
receiving a report of sexual abuse of a child are given the responsibility of
making urgent arrangements for the care and protection of the child, such as
obtaining emergency medical treatment for the child and placing the child in
a shelter home, and bringing the matter in front of the CWC, should the need
arise.
|
Bilateral trade between
India and China resumes through Nathu La border
The bilateral trade between India and
China through Nathu La border has resumed.
- The announcement in this regard was made by
the General Secretary of the Indo-China Border Traders’ Welfare
Association, Tenzing Tsepel.
- Trade between India and China through Nathu La
border, located at a height of 14,200 feet, resumed in 2006, 44
years after it was closed.
India, Pak to join SCO’s
Counter-Terror Exercise
India and Pakistan will be part of a
multi-nation counter-terror exercise in Russia under the framework of Shanghai
Cooperation Organisation.
- For the first time, the two neighboring
countries will be coming together for counter-terrorism exercise.
- The military drill will be held in the Ural
mountains of Russia and almost all SCO member countries — China, Russia,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and the new members India
and Pakistan — will be part of it.
Harimau Shakti 2018: India
and Malaysia joint military exercise begins
The Harimau Shakti 2018 Exercise between
the Indian Army and the Malaysian Army commenced on 30 April to 13 May 2018 at
Wardieburn Camp, Kuala Lumpur.
- Lt Col Irwan Ibrahim, Commanding Officer of 1st
Royal Ranger Regiment of Malaysian Army welcomed the Indian Contingent and
wished the Army troops for their successful and mutually beneficial joint
exercise
South Western Command conducts Exercise Vijay
Prahar in Rajasthan
Formations of South Western Command are carrying out Exercise VIJAY PRAHAR
in the Mahajan Field Firing Ranges close to Suratgarh in Rajasthan. The
month-long exercise is essentially to practice the troops in penetrative
manoeuvres across the obstacle ridden terrain under a nuclear umbrella.
- The exercise is aimed to orchestrate wide spectrum
of threats which are planned to be tackled through high tempo joint air
and land operation involving hundreds of aircrafts, thousands of tanks and
artillery pieces supported by real time intelligence, surveillance,
reconnaissance and just in time logistic support.
Telecom Commission
approves the Data & Voice Services in flights
The Telecom Commission has approved a
proposal to allow phone calls and internet services in domestic and
international flights in India.
- Creation of an ombudsman to deal with telecom
grievances proposal also go approved as per the telecom secretary
Aruna Sundararajan.
- Mobile calling service would be permitted above
3,000m in Indian airspace and the service should be through an Indian
satellite.
HM Rajnath Singh
inaugurates the 19th ‘Navoli Jyotirdinam’ celebrations
Rajnath Singh, Union Home Minister
inaugurated the 19th Navoli Jyotirdinam celebrations at ‘Shantigiri Ashram’ in
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- The celebration starts from 1st May 2018 and
will last till 6th May 2018, commemorating the departure of Shantigiri
Ashram founder Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru on 6th May 1999.
- Union Home Minister, Rajnath Singh also met Khalid
bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister of Bahrain.
14 Indian cities figure in
world’s 20 most polluted cities list: WHO
As per the data released by
the World Health Organisation (WHO), 14 Indian cities figure in a list of
world's 20 most polluted cities in terms of particulate matter PM2.5
levels in 2016.
- WHO Global Urban Ambient Air Pollution Database
ranked Kanpur as the most polluted city among 4300 world cities
which were monitored for their air pollution levels in the year 2016.
- The other Indian cities that registered very high
levels of PM2.5 pollutants were Faridabad, Varanasi, Gaya, Patna, Delhi,
Lucknow, Agra, Muzaffarpur, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and
Jodhpur.
- The PM2.5 includes pollutants like sulfate, nitrate
and black carbon, which pose the greatest risk to human health.
India- South Africa
business summit concludes in Johannesburg
Minister of Commerce and Industry and
Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, attended India- South Africa business
summit in Johannesburg, South Africa
- The Minister highlighted the historical relations
between India and Swaziland, Botswana and Lesotho and pledged to
take the economic partnership forward.
- The Minister also met members of India-South Africa
CEOs forum who expressed confidence in the Government of India’s efforts
to strengthen India-Africa relations. Mr Prabhu inaugurated a
multi-sectoral exhibition at Johannesburg.
Subhash Chandra Khuntia is
new IRDAI chairman
Former IAS officer Subhash Chandra
Khuntia is the new chairman of the Insurance Regulatory and Development
Authority of India (IRDAI).
- Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC) approved the
appointment of Mr.Khuntia to the post of chairperson of the insurance
regulator. His appointment will be for a period of three years or till the
age of 65 years, whichever is the earliest
- His appointment comes over two months after the
previous chairman T.S.Vijayan retired on completion of his five year term
in February.
Sitanshu Kar takes over as
DG of Press Information Bureau
Mr Sitanshu Ranjan Kar (1983 batch
officer of Indian Information Service) took over as the 27th Principal
Spokesperson of the Government of India and Director General of Press
Information Bureau in New Delhi.
- He succeeds Mr Frank Noronha.
Legendary singer Asha
Bhosle honored with PC Chandra Puraskaar
Legendary singer Asha Bhosle was
honoured with 26th PC Chandra Puraskaar for her contribution in the
field of Indian music.
- Sharmila Tagore was the Chief Guest at the event who
also presented the prestigious award to Asha Bhosle.
- Asha Bhosle made her singing debut in 1943 and she
has sung in a great variety of musical genres. Her career spans over
almost seven decades.
Introduced in the year 1993 as a
tribute to the founding father of the P. C. Chandra Group, the late Shri
Purna Chandra Chandra. The recipient list of P. C. Chandra Puraskaar has some
of the most illustrious achievers from our country, each with outstanding contribution
to their chosen fields of art, culture, entertainment, sports etc.
|
Eminent economist Ashok
Mitra passes away
The first Finance Minister in the
Left Front government in West Bengal Ashok Mitra passed away in Kolkata.
He was 90.
- Besides serving the State Government, he also worked
with the Central Government as the Chief Economic Adviser and was a member
of Rajya Sabha.
