Categories

National Current Affairs
October 3rd Week 2015 Current Affairs
Category : National Current Affairs
posted Date :
Total No.of views :
Total No.of Comments :
Rating: 
0 / 5 (0 votes)

1) Union Government flags off Climate Special Science Express.

  • Union Government has flagged off Science Express Climate Action Special (SECAS) with the theme of Climate Change.
  • It was flagged off by Union Science and Technology Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan from Safdarjung railway station in New Delhi.
Points to Note:
  1. The Science Express aims to create awareness among various sections of the society especially the students about various challenges and issues associated with Climate Change.
  2. It is an innovative science exhibition mounted on a 16 coach AC train and has been custom-built by the Indian Railways for Department of Science and Technology (DoS&T).
  3. It is collaborative initiative of DoS&T and Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Union Ministry of Railways.
  4. Initially for about 7 months, the train will travel across India covering about 18,000 kms and halting at 64 locations spread over 20 States.
 
2) SC Permits voluntary use of Aadhaar Cards in Welfare.
  • Supreme Court (SC) has permitted Union Government to voluntary use Aadhaar card scheme in Welfare Schemes.
  • It has been extended for schemes like MGNREGA, PM’s Jan Dhan Yojana, all types of pension schemes and EPF.
  • The apex court modified its earlier order which restricted use of Aadhaar to public distribution system (LPG) and LPG (cooking gas) subsidy.
  • The modified order was ruled by five-judge Constitution Bench headed by Chief Justice H.L. Dattu and mentioned that Aadhaar card scheme is purely voluntary and not mandatory.
  • It was issued on a batch of requests made by Union Government, Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDIA), Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and various government regulators IRDAI, SEBI, TRAI etc.
 
3) Supreme Court declares NJAC unconstitutional.
  • Supreme Court has declared National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC) Act, 2014 and 99th Constitutional Amendment Act, 2014 unconstitutional and void.
  • Ruling in this regard was given by five-judge Constitutional Bench of SC headed by Justice J.S. Khehar on a petition were filed by Supreme Court Advocates on Record Association (SCAORA) and others.
  • SC bench has held that Collegiums system will remain operative which was established by its earlier ruling of in 1993 for the appointment of judges to the higher judiciary.
Backgroud:
  1. The parliament had unanimously passed the NJAC Act, 2014 and the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act. Both acts were meant to replace the two-decade old collegium system of judges appointing judges in higher judiciary.
  2. These Acts were passed in order to bring transparency in appointment of Judges and give executive i.e. elected public representatives a role in the appointment process.
  3. The Constitutional Amendment Act was then ratified by 20 State Assemblies and had received the Presidential assent on 31 December 2014 and became effective from April 2015.
Composition:
  1. The NJAC was supposed to have 6 members, three from Judiciary comprising Chief Justice of India (CJI) as its Chairperson and ex officio member and 2 other senior most judges of SC. While, other three members were Union Minister of Law and Justice (ex-officio) and 2 eminent persons.

4) Tripura Police to accept FIR through SMS or e-mail.

  • After the launch of toll-free helpline number for women in distress now Tripura Police is back with a new initiative which enables general public to register FIR (First Information Report) through an SMS or through an e-mail.
  • Complaint must include name and address of complainant, the nature of the offence and the place of occurrence.
  • Toll-free helpline number for women in distress to lodge their complaints – 1091.
About Tripura:
 
Capital: Agartala
Chief Minister: Manik Sarkar
Governor: Tathagata Roy
 
5) Civil Aviation Minister inaugurates International Civil Helicopters Conclave 2015.
  • Union Minister of Civil Aviation P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju has inaugurated the International Civil Helicopters Conclave 2015 in New Delhi.
  • Raju also inaugurated an exhibition on Safety Management System, Multi Mission Utility and Regional Air Connectivity. He launched the Corporate logo of Pawan Hans Limited and released a coffee table book on the occasion.
  • The conclave marks the 30th anniversary of Pawan Hans Limited.
  • RN Choubey, Secretary Civil Aviation said the helicopter sector needs light touch regulations. The new civil aviation policy, including the policies of DGCA will have such light touch regulations without compromising with overall safety requirements.
 
6) Telecom operators to compensate consumers by Rs. 1 for call drop: TRAI.
  • Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has made it mandatory for telecom operators to compensate consumers by Rs. 1 for call drops with effect from 1 January 2016.
New TRAI rules:
  1. The compensation will be limited to three dropped calls in a particular day.
  2. It is mandatory for telecom operators to send a message to the calling customer within 4 hours of the occurrence of call drop along with details of amount credited in his account.
  3. In case of post-paid customers, the compensation details of the credit should be provided in the next bill.
What is Call drop?
  1. Call drop occurs after voice call is interrupted or disconnected before it is completed after being successfully established.
  2. Thus, it can be said that it represents telecom operator’s inability to maintain a successfully established call prior to their normal completion.
Reasons:
  1. Call drop may occur if signal strength of mobile tower of telecom operator goes below the minimum acceptable single to make a call.
  2. It may also even occur due to interference created by bad environmental conditions and because of improper hard handoff if user is moving from one cell to another cell.
  3.  
7) Maharashtra declares drought-like condition in 14,708 villages.
  • Maharashtra Government has declared drought-like condition in 14,708 villages of the state’s total 43,000 villages.
  • This means the drought covers 34% of the state and these villages have receive inadequate rainfall in monsoon season 2015 leading to decrease in Kharif production.
  • The drought like condition was announced by a state Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by State Agriculture Minister Eknath Khadse in Mumbai.
  • As a relief measure, the committee has decided to waive off college and school fees of students residing in these villages.
Region wise Drought conditions Marathwada region:
  1. It has been worst-hit with a drought-like condition as it has been declared in every single village of this central region.
  2. Around 8,522 villages in the region have been impacted due to this natural calamity and accounts for 58% of the drought area in the state.
North Maharashtra region:
  1. It includes Nashik and Jalgaon districts of state. In this region follows 4,869 villages impacted and accounts for 33% of the drought area.
Konkan region:
  1. It has not a single village affected by the calamity and has region experienced a plentiful monsoon this year.
 
8) Rajasthan Government notifies 5% quota for Gujjars and other SBCs.
  • Rajasthan government has issued a notification to provide 5 per cent quota to Gujjars and other Special Backward Classes (SBC).
  • The notification was issued by state government under the Rajasthan Special Backward Classes Reservation Act, 2015.
  • It will provide 5% reservation in educational institutes and government jobs to Gujjars, Raibari, Banjara and Gadiya Lohar communities in the state.
 

 

9) Swadhar Greh scheme approved by Haryana Government for women in distress.

  • The Haryana Government approved Swadhar Greh scheme, which will assure economic and social security to women in distress.
  • The scheme aims at creating a supportive institutional framework catering to their primary needs in difficult situations.
  • The scheme will work upon providing basic amenities, such as shelter, food, clothing and health along with economic and social security to women in distress. Also, the scheme will make sure that the special needs of these women are taken care of.
  • Under the scheme, Swadhar Greh will be set up in every district with capacity to accommodate 30 women. The Greh will cater to the needs of shelter, food, clothing, medical treatment and care of the women in distress. It will enable them to regain their emotional strength.
  • The scheme promises to provide the benefits to women who are deserted and are without social and economic support, prisoners released from jail and are without family, survivors of natural disasters left homeless and are without social and economic support.
  • Swadhar Greh will also cover female victims of domestic violence, family tension or discord, who are made to leave their homes without any means of subsistence and have no special protection from exploitation and/or facing litigation on account of marital disputes.
 
 
10) Union Cabinet gives nod to MLAT in Criminal Matters between India and Maldives.
  • The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) between India and Maldives in case of Criminal Matters.
Key facts of Treaty:
  1. Aims to enhance effectiveness of both signatory countries in investigation and prosecution of crime. Seeks to enhance cooperation and mutual legal assistance in criminal matters.
  2. Provide a broad legal framework for bilateral cooperation in the context of transnational crime and its linkages to terrorism. The bilateral cooperation will mainly focus on investigation and prosecution of crime.
  3. It will also focus on tracing, confiscation of proceeds, restraint and instruments of crime as well as monetary fund meant to finance terrorist acts.
About MLAT:
  1. MLAT is an agreement signed between two or more countries for the purpose of exchanging and gathering information to enforce criminal laws or public laws.
  2. Under the MLAT a mechanisms has been developed among countries for obtaining an evidence to solve the criminal investigations and further use it for prosecutions.
 
11) Union Cabinet gives nod to agreement between India and Egypt on Maritime Transport.
  • The Union Cabinet has given its approval for signing of an agreement on Maritime Transport between India and Egypt.
About Agreement:
  1. Strengthen cooperation in the field of merchant shipping and other matters related maritime transport between both countries.
  2. Encourage the development maritime relationship between both countries and mutually cooperate to enhance and stimulate steady growth of maritime traffic.
  3. Facilitate training and exchange of staff and students between both countries from various maritime establishments. Boost exchange of information necessary for facilitating and accelerating the flow of commercial goods in the sea and at the ports.
 
12) Government inaugurate Indian Police Foundation and Indian Police Institute in New Delhi.
  • Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Indian Police Foundation (IPF) and Indian Police Institute (IPI) in New Delhi.
  • Both agencies aim at embarking a culture of research and evidence-based policing in India. It also seeks to subjectivity avoid personal errors and biases in decision-making.
  • They have been set up and registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860 as an All India Society.
Indian Police Foundation:
  1. It will be a think tank for suggesting reforms in the Indian Police. It will bring together the police professionals, academia and other stake holders and provide a platform to research, ideate, discuss and seek the answers.
Indian Police Institute:
  1. It will be a research and training institute for police officers in the Indian Police for the pursuit of professional excellence. It has been set up in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of a SMART, people-centric and professionally competent police.
 
13) Government divides Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Areas into two Separate Headquarters.
  • Union Ministry of Defence has divided erstwhile Maharashtra and Gujarat (MnG) Naval Area into two separate headquarters in order to enhance operational and administrative organizational structure.
  • They have been divided under Flag Officer Maharashtra Area and Flag Officer Gujarat Naval Area. The division will help For better vigilance on the sea border with Pakistan In better communication and coordination with the respective state governments, local authorities and fishermen.
  • The charge of Flag Officer Maharashtra Area was assumed by Rear Admiral Satish Namdeo Ghormade. While, Rear Admiral Murlidhar Pawar will assume as Flag Officer of Gujarat Naval Area.
 
Background:
  1. The idea of dividing the existing Maharashtra and Gujarat Naval Area into two parts was mooted after considering breach in naval security from Pakistan’s side on at least on two occasions i.e. 26/11 terrorist attack in 2008 and destroying of ship carrying ammunition by Indian Navy in 2014.
No copyright exists on Title of literary work: Supreme Court:
  1. The Supreme Court in its judgment held that no copyright exists on the title of a literary work. The ruling was made by a bench comprising Justices MB Lokur and SA Bobde.
  2. The bench passed the order on an appeal filed by Krishika Lulla and others against an order of the Bombay High Court which refused to quash a complaint filed by writer Shyam Vithalrao Devkatta.
  3. As per the judgment passed, no copyright subsists in the title of a literary work and a plaintiff or a complainant is not entitled to relief on such basis except in an action for passing off or in respect of a registered trademark comprising such titles.

14) Tipu palace opened Brailee signage

  • Mysore ruler, Tipu Sultan’s Summer Palace in Bengaluru has become the first Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) monument in Karnataka and the third in the country to have facilities such as the tactile pathway and Braille signage.
  • The facilities, installed by Bhopal-based NGO Arushi, were inaugurated on 2nd October. With the new facility in place, visually impaired persons will now be able to access the site on their own and experience its grandeur.
  • Two other monuments that have both Braille signage and tactile pathway in India are Sanchi Stupa in Bhopal and Lakshmana Temple at Sirur in Chhattisgarh. ASI now plans to provide these facilities in monuments at Belur, Halebidu, Chitradurga Fort and Shravanabelagola.


15) Siddipet mile stone in Swatch Bharat

  • Current Affirs Siddipet, a constituency which is being represented by Harish Rao, has added a feather in its cap by ensuring a toilet for every household and is all set to become the first constituency in the State to be declared ‘Open Defecation Free (ODF)’.
  • The constituency is having 64,733 houses and every household is having a toilet now. Last month alone saw the construction of 5,531 toilets making sure that all were completed by.