Current Affairs

Weekly Current 20-26, January, 2014

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National perspective Governance and social issues

Gondi manuscripts
The Centre for Dalit and Adivasi Studies and Translation (CDAST) of the University of Hyderabad has undertaken translation of ten manuscripts about the history of the Gond Kingdom of Chandrapur (in present day Maharashtra) dating back to 1750. Discovered in 2011, in a village of Narnoor mandal in Adilabad district (Andhra Pradesh), manuscripts are written in the extinct Gondi script (Gunjala Gondi script) About the Gonds They live in Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Assam and West Bengal. A small number (2,500) live in Gujarat. The majority of Gonds are found today in the state of Madhya Pradesh. Their main concentrations are the Satpura Plateau and the district of Mandla. The former princely state of Bastar (Madhya Pradesh) is the home of three important Gond groups-the Murias, the Hill Marias, and Bisonhorn Marias. The states of Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh also contain substantial Gond populations, and the majority of these have traditionally been described as Raj Gonds, in their own language they are called Koitur. They are the largest Dravidian tribe. In the 1500s, several Gond dynasties were established and the Gond Rajas ruled until they were conquered by Muslim armies in 1592. In the 1700s, the Gond lost all power to the Maratha kings, who forced them to escape into the hills. The Gond kingdoms ruled in the north, south, with capital cities at Chandrapur and Garha-Mandla in Madhya Pradesh and central region with its capital at Kherla in Madhya Pradesh. The Gond tribe is listed as a Scheduled Tribe (ST) in all states except Uttar Pradesh and Assam. They are listed as a Scheduled Caste (SC) in Uttar Pradesh.

Supreme Court commutes death sentence

The Supreme Court commuted sentences of 15 death row convicts to life imprisonment holding that delay in deciding mercy pleas or insanity/mental illness like schizophrenia could be grounds for commuting death sentences. The court has also ruled that: The right to seek mercy under article 72/161 of the constitution is a constitutional right and not a mere prerogative at the discretion or whims of the executive. There could be no distinction whether a person on death row was convicted under the Indian Penal Code or anti-terror laws. There has to be 14 days gap between the communication of the mercy petition's rejection to the convict and his family members and actual execution of the death sentence. It is the obligation of the jail superintendent to ensure that the convict's family members are informed about the rejection of the mercy petition in time. Solitary confinement of a prisoner, including death row convict, is unconstitutional The prison authorities must provide legal aid to prisoners facing death sentence so that they can approach courts for commutation of their sentence on the ground of their illness and delay in deciding mercy plea by the government. Power of commutation of death in India

Article 72: Power of President to grant pardons, etc, and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases Article 161: Power of Governor to grant pardons, etc, and to suspend, remit or commute sentences in certain cases The powers conferred by sections 432 and 433 upon the State Government to remit or commute a sentence in certain cases

National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013

The government of India has decided to extend the process and implementation of National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 to the Indian stated of Chhattisgarh and Karnataka. The government also buckle up to implement National Food Security Act (NFSA) 2013 in the seven states and Union territories like Haryana, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Delhi (UT), Punjab, Karnataka and Chhattisgarh. Uttrakhand and Chandigarh are also expected to join this group soon. Summary of the National Food Security Bill 2013 The Act extends to the whole of India (A) Entitlements: Priority households are entitled to 5 kgs of foodgrains per person per month, and Antyodaya households to 35 kgs per household per month. The combined coverage of Priority and Antyodaya households shall extend up to 75% o f the rural population and up to 50% of the urban population. The PDS issue prices are I: Rs 3/2/1 per kg for rice/wheat/millets. These may be revised after three years. Children Below six months: who suffer from malnutrition, meals will be provided to them free of charge through the local Anganwadi and breastfeeding shall be promoted. 6 months to 6 years: through the local Anganwadi. 6-14 years: one free mid-day meal every day (except on school holidays) Pregnant and Lactating Women:-free meal at the local anganwadi (during pregnancy and six months after child birth) and maternity benefits of Rs 6,000, in installments. (B)Identification of Eligible Households The identification is left to state governments, subject to the schemes guidelines for Antyodaya, and subject to guidelines to be specified by the state government for Priority households. (C)State Food Commissions Function To monitor the implementation of the Act. Give advice to the states governments and their agencies. Inquire into violations of entitlements. To hear appeals against orders of the District Grievance Redressal Officer. Powers to impose penalties if an order of the DGRO is not complied with. Prepare annual reports. (D)Transparency and Grievance Redressal Two-tier grievance redressal structure-the District Grievance Redressal Officer (DGRO) and State Food Commission. DGROs Appointed by state governments for each district. Hear complaints and take necessary action according to norms to be prescribed by state governments. (E)Obligations of Government and Local Authorities Central Government:-to provide foodgrains (or, failing that, funds).

State governments:-to implement the relevant schemes, in accordance with the Central Government guidelines. Local Authorities and Panchayati Raj Institutions:-proper implementation of the Bill in their respective areas

Minority status to Jain community

The Union Cabinet has decided to grant minority status to Jain community. With this the Jains will be the 6 th community to have minority status after Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Parsis. Benefits Article 25 and Articles 26: allows propagating their religion and also freedom to manage their religious affairs. Article 30: can manage their own educational institutions without interference or opening them up for reservation for students from other communities. They also become eligible for funds under the governments minority welfare programmes.

National Urban Health Mission (NUHM)

Health ministry has launched National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). It will cover Bangalore, Mangalore, Mysore, Ullal and Bagalkot in the first phase. About NUHM The National Urban Health Mission (NUHM) is a sub-mission of National Health Mission (NHM). The mission seeks to achieve its goals by investing in high-caliber health professionals, appropriate technology through PPP, and health insurance for urban poor. Objective: To provide adequate and efficient urban public health delivery system for the urban poor. Also aims at giving more thrust to sanitation, clean drinking water, vector control and other related issues. Coverage: all State capitals, district headquarters and cities/towns with a population of more than 50000. Special focus: slum dwellers and other marginalized groups like rickshaw pullers, street vendors, railway and bus station coolies, homeless people, street children, construction site workers. Funding pattern: the centre-state funding pattern will be 75:25 for all the States except North-Eastern states including Sikkim and other special category states of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, for whom the centre-state funding pattern will be 90:10.

Defence /Security
Agni-IV
Agni-IV, a surface-to-surface missile, was successfully test-fired from Wheeler Island, off the Odisha coast by Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), which developed Agni-IV. This success paves the way for the missiles induction into the Army. The Army has already deployed Agni-I, II, III, Prithvi-II and Dhanush missiles, all of which carry nuclear warheads. India and nuclear energy A. Developing a Peaceful Nuclear Program: 1947 to 1974 After independence Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru launched an ambitious nuclear program meant to produce inexpensive electricity. India opposed nuclear weapons favoured comprehensive global nuclear disarmament.

Decided not to sign the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) when it was opened for signature in 1968 unless the nuclear weapon states agreed to a clear plan for nuclear disarmament. Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri authorized theoretical work on the Subterranean Nuclear Explosion for Peaceful Purposes (SNEPP) project in November 1964. On 18 May 1974, India tested a fission device which it described as a peaceful nuclear explosion (PNE). B. The Slow Path towards Weaponization: 1974 to 1998 Indias 1974 nuclear test was major contributing factor to the formation of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). It was not until roughly 1986 that India could be considered a nuc lear weapons-capable state. At that time, advances in Pakistan's efforts to acquire nuclear weapons and the oblique nuclear threats issued by Islamabad in the wake of the 1986 to 1987 Brasstacks crisis appear to have persuaded Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to authorize weaponization of India's nuclear capability. At the same time, India continued to support efforts for nuclear disarmament. In 1988, Prime Minister Gandhi submitted an Action Plan for a Nuclear-Weapons-Free and Non-Violent World Order to the United Nations General Assembly In 1995 the Narasimha Rao government considered an accelerated program of nuclear tests U.S. diplomatic pressure convinced the Rao government to postpone the tests. In 1998, the BJP authorized two rounds of nuclear tests after which it formally declared India to be a nuclear-weapon state. C. India as a Declared Nuclear Power: 1998 to the Present After the 1998 tests the Indian government established a National Security Advisory Board, which issued a Draft Report on Indian Nuclear Doctrine that outlined Indias nuclear no-first-use policy and defensive posture of credible minimum nuclear deterrence. In line with this posture the countrys nuclear weapons remain under the control of the civilian Nuclear Command Authority (NCA), comprised of a Political Council, chaired by the Prime Minister, which is the sole body which can authorize the use of nuclear weapons; and an Executive Council, led by the National Security Advisor, which provides inputs for decision making and executes the directives given to it by the Political Council. D. Recent Developments and Current Status India continues to participate in international nuclear trade. New Delhi is seeking membership to the NSG, MTCR (missile technology control regime), Wassenaar Arrangement and Australia Group. At the same time, India has remained firmly outside of the NPT, arguing that nuclear weapons are an integral part of our national security and will remain so pending the global elimination of all nuclear weapons. India has a facility-specific safeguards agreement in place with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and a waiver from the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) allowing it to participate in global civilian nuclear technology commerce. New Delhi has not signed the CTBT, and continues to produce fissile material for its nuclear weapons program.

Environment and ecology

Capacity Building Scheme and Rajiv Gandhi Institute for climate change

The government has approved Capacity Building Scheme and Rajiv Gandhi Institute for climate change to be set up in New Delhi. Capacity Building Scheme To assess impact of climate change in vulnerable areas and associated risks. Designed to undertake and augment various activities including Coordination of National Action Plan on Climate Change (NAPCC) and State Action Plan on Climate Change. Rajiv Gandhi Institute for climate change:- Autonomous body will have four key functional areas: Environmental-scientific assessments and modeling Economic and legal analysis Monitoring and policy making Training, capacity building and advocacy and database, documentation and inventory management.

India and world

India and Pakistan
India and Pakistan have agreed to grant Non-Discriminatory Market Access (NDMA) on reciprocal basis to each other, in place of the Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) during a meeting between commerce ministers. They also decided to: Expedite the process of giving bank licences so that Indian and Pakistani banks to operate in the other country to facilitate trade. Carry out trade through the Wagah-Attari border on all days of the week and allowed containers carrying shipments from both sides. Organize the meetings of the technical working groups of customs, railways, banking, standards organizations and energy. Organize a joint Vintage Car Rally between Amritsar and Lahore, to coincide with the coming India Show in order to promote people to people contact.

ECONOMIC PERSPECTIVE
China grew at 14 years low GDP rate during 2013
Chinas economy during 2013 grew 7.7%, lowest annual growth rate since 1999 when the economy grew 7.6%. China and BRICS:-Among all BRICS nations China has highest GDP followed by Brazil, Russia, India and South Africa. More importantly Chinas GDP is greater than the combined GDP of all other members. China vs. India:- In 1980, the economies of China and India were almost the same in terms of gross domestic product (GDP). India's GDP per capita was, in fact, slightly higher than that of its much larger eastern neighbour. Then, the Chinese economy grew at an average rate of 10 per cent between 1980 and 2010, leaving India far behind. Multitudes of factors that play a pivotal role in shaping the economy of both the countries include social, political and other factors. In terms of exchange rates, the economy of China is in the second position, whereas Indian economy is considered as the 11th largest economies in the world. Indias estimated GDP is around USD 1.537 trillion, while China is far ahead with GDP of USD 5.878 trillion. Chinas agricultural techniques are more advanced as compared to India and it yields better quality crops.

 Chinese manufacturing sector is presently eight times the size of India's India is running little behind to china when we talk about per capita GDP. Reasons for China's rapid pace of growth The biggest advantage that China had in the early 1980s was human capital. In 1982, the literacy rate in China was 64.4 per cent, compared to India's 37. In terms of healthcare, China had a far healthier population. Business-friendly environment created by the setting up of Special Economic Zones and businessfriendly labour policies. Multinational companies approached China and India very differently. They saw India as a large market for their products, while China was seen as a manufacturing base for supply to the rest of the world. The large difference in foreign direct investment (FDI) flow into the two countries. Political stability In China decision-making is very local and fast.

Urjit R Patel committee of RBI

The Expert Committee headed by RBI Deputy Governor Urjit R Patel submitted its report to Revise and Strengthen the Monetary Policy Framework. The main recommendations of committee are as follows:o RBI should adopt the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) as the measure of the nominal anchor for policy framework. o The nominal anchor or the target for inflation should be set at 4 per cent with a band of plus or minus 2 per cent around it. o The monetary policy regime must shift away from the current approach to one that is centered on the nominal anchor new CPI only. o Inflation from the current level of 10 per cent to be brought down to 8 per cent over a period not exceeding the next 12 months and to 6 per cent over a period not exceeding the next 24 month period before formally adopting the recommended target of 4 per cent inflation with a band of +/- 2 per cent. o The committee asked the Central Government to ensure that the fiscal deficit as a ratio to Gross Domestic Product is brought down to 3.0 per cent by 2016-17. o That the monetary policy decision-making should be vested with a Monetary Policy Committee (MPC). The Governor of the RBI should be the Chairman of the MPC. The term of office of the MPC could be three years, without prospect of renewal. o All fixed income financial products should be treated on a par with bank deposits for the purposes of taxation and Tax Deduction at Source. o The RBI should introduce a remunerated standing deposit facility, which would effectively empower it with unlimited sterilisation capability. As a buffer against outflows, the RBIs strategy should be to build an adequate level of foreign exchange reserves. Currently, RBI tracks WPI inflation as the primary price indicator even as it takes into account all types of inflation numbers before drafting the monetary policy.

Depositor Education and Awareness Fund

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is all set to establish a fund to be called Depositor Education and Awareness Fund. It would comprise unclaimed funds of depositors. The Fund would be utilised for promotion of depositors interest and for such other purposes which may be necessary for the promotion of depositors interests as specified by the Reserve Bank from time to time. The

RBI would appoint an authority or a committee to administer the Fund, and to maintain separate accounts and other relevant records in relation to the Fund, which would be specified by it.

RBI to withdraw from circulation all currency notes issued prior to 2005
The Reserve Bank has decided to withdraw all currency notes issued prior to 2005, including Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations, after March 31 in a move apparently aimed at curbing black money and fake currencies. At present, currency notes in denominations of Rs 5, Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 are issued.

P J Nayak committee
The committee has been constituted by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to review governance of board of banks and examine fit and proper criteria for directors, including their tenure. Former Axis Bank Chairman P J Nayak will be the chairman of the Committee.

MISCELLANEOUS Personalities
Laimdota Straujuma
She is a technocrat and former agriculture minister, recently has been elected as first ever woman Prime Minister of Latvia.

Rakesh Khurana
Mr. Rakesh Khurana is an Indian-origin academician, has been appointed dean of the prestigious Harvard College. He succeeds Evelynn Hammonds.

Arogyaswami Joseph Paulraj

Mr. Arogyaswami Joseph Paulraj an Indian-born scientist and Professor at Stanford University won the Marconi Society Prize 2014 for developing the theory and applications of Multiple Input Multiple Output (MIMO) antennas which has revolutionized high speed wireless delivery of multimedia services for billions of people. MIMO boosts data rate by creating multiple parallel spatial data streams and is the key to the latest wireless broadband networks like 4G cellular. He is the only India-born scientist to receive both the Marconi Prize and the IEEE Alexander Graham Bell Medal, the two top global IT technology awards. Marconi Prize Known as Tech Nobel the award recognizes advancements in communications, awarded annually by the Marconi Foundation.

Hery Rajaonarimampianina
Mr. Hery Rajaonarimampianina has been declared as the President of Madagascar.