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INDEX
1. National news 1.1 RDA to define performance standards
1.2 Triple Talaq Case
1.3 Indian Scientist unveil home grown gold standard
1.4 Centre may execute proposed social security law in phases
1.5 National Employment Policy this year
1.6 Cabinet gives nod for 10 indigenous nuclear reactors
1.7 NTRO now under Intelligence Act
1.8 ICJ stays Jadhav execution
1.9 Survival of newborns India ranks lower than Somalia
2. International News 2.1 South Korea elected new President
2.2 Belt-Road Initiative (BRI)
3. Polity and Governance 3.1 SC plans to go paperless
3.2 Voluntary Unemployment rising: NITI
3.3 Minority status only if trusts enrol on NITI site
4. Economy 4.1 GST to herald a new era in federalism: RBI
4.2 Centre cuts UDAN levy on air tickets
4.3 Cash is back as digital payment dip on costs
4.4 Foreign food retailers can sell non-foods too
4.5 GST council sets rates for most commodities
4.6 GST council finalises rates for services
4.7 GST rates could have aided green goods
5. Science and Tech
5.1 Spyder Surface to Air Missile test fired
5.2 Global Cyberattack affecting 150 countries
5.3 India’s first nuclear uterine transplant performed
6. Environment / Geography 6.1 GEAC gives nod for GM Mustard
6.2 Traffic pollution reaches the Himalayas
6.3 Yellow eyed Penguins could be wiped out in 25 years
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7. Health Issues
7.1 Multi-Drug Resistant TB will rise in India says new study
8. India and World
8.1 India aims to boost to trade ties with Africa
9. Short News
9.1 Navy saves ship from pirates
9.2 PM calls for evergreen revolution in the country
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Current Affairs (11-May to 20 May, 2017)
1. National News
1.1 RDA to define performance standards
India’s first rail regulator, Rail Development Authority (RDA), would not just look at tariff
structures for passenger and freight operations but also set standards of performance and
efficiency that would be enforceable under the Railways
Act.
RDA can define standards of performance and efficiency;
such standards would be notified as rules under the
Railway Act to give a binding force upon acceptance.
The regulator will set “standards for efficiency and
performance for consumer satisfaction in both passenger and freight” and will also be
“authorised to check for deviations and suggest remedial measures.”
The regulator will provide guidance on quantity and quality of service provided to passengers.
These may include setting standards including hours of service, frequency of trains, capacity per
coach, cleanliness level, and quality of water, food, furnishing and linen.
Structure of RDA
The Railway Board also defined the structure of the RDA with a Chairman along with three
members each for tariff, public private partnership and efficiency, standards and benchmarking.
The regulator will, however, not involve itself in policy making of the Indian Railways, operations
and maintenance of the rail system, financial management, setting technical standards and
compliance of safety standards.
1.2 Triple Talaq Case
Supreme Court condemned the practice of triple
talaq calling it the ‘worst and undesirable form’
of dissolution of marriage among Muslims even
though certain schools of thought termed it
legal.
The Islamic divorce practice, legal under the
Muslim Personal Law of Shariat, allows
husbands to separate from their wives by
uttering the word ‘talaq’ three times. Under the
present law, ‘talaq’ can be given via text
message as well.
Apex court is hearing a clutch of petitions
challenging the constitutional validity of the
practice of instant triple talaq (talaq-e-bidat).
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Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Supreme court that the Centre was against
all forms of triple talaq and would argue on all aspects of gender justice including polygamy.
Triple talaq is opposed by a host of women’s organisations in the country who call it regressive
and anti-women. The practice leads to abuse and discrimination against women.
Centre will enact divorce law, if SC strikes Triple Talaq
The Centre promised to enact a divorce law for Muslim men if the Supreme Court strikes down
all three forms of triple talaq unilaterally pronounced by a Muslim man on his wife.
Earlier, the apex court said it was keeping open for adjudication in the future the issues of
polygamy and 'nikah halala' among Muslims as the Centre insisted deliberations on these
aspects as well.
During the last hearing, the apex court had observed that triple talaq is the "worst" and "not a
desirable" form of dissolution of marriage among the Muslims, even though theire were schools
of thought which called it "legal".
1.3 Indian Scientist unveil home grown gold standard
India now has its own standard bar of gold that is 99.99% pure and can be used to verify the
purity of gold sold in shops.
Despite India being one of the largest markets for gold,
goldsmiths so far depended on imported reference gold
bars to check the purity of their biscuits, coins and
jewellery.
Bharatiya Nirdeshak Dravya (BND 4201), the bar,
weighing 20gm and with the dimensions of a ‘Parle-G’
biscuit, will mean that Indian jewellers will no longer
need to import gold bars to check the purity of
ornaments.
The gold bar would be 25% cheaper than the imported version and as a business (reference
gold bars being bought by dealers for tests) could be worth nearly ₹1000 crore per annum.
Government produces Standard Gold Bars of standard fineness and purity of 10g, 50g, 100g,
500g & 1000g denominations.
1.4 Centre may execute proposed social security law in phases
The Labour Ministry may implement its proposed social security law in a phased manner
exempting small factories, employing up to 10 workers, from its ambit initially.
The small factories could be covered in the second phase. Factories employing more than 10
workers and informal sector workers can be covered in the first phase.
The Labour Ministry had in March proposed a labour code on social security which will provide
social security cover to the entire workforce in the country, including self-employed and
agricultural workers.
The provident fund and pension contribution, administered by the Employees’ Provident Fund
Organisation (EPFO), is mandatory only for factories employing at least 20 workers at present.
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Further, medical benefits under the Employees’ State Insurance Act apply to factories with at
least 10 workers and it is also applicable to shops, hotels, restaurants, cinemas and road
transport undertakings.
1.5 National Employment Policy this year
The Centre will frame a new sector-wise National Employment Policy in this financial year even
as it grapples with low employment generation.
New policy would ensure a transition from
informal to formal jobs takes place in the
country.
The pace of job creation fell to a six-year low in
2015 with 1.35 lakh new jobs being created
compared with 4.21 lakh new jobs in 2014 and
4.19 lakh in 2013, according to a survey of
conducted by Labour Bureau.
At present, in India, around 92% of the workers are engaged in informal employment — those
who are not covered by any social security law.
1.6 Cabinet gives nod for 10 indigenous nuclear reactors
Union Cabinet cleared the proposal to construct 10 indigenous pressurised heavy water nuclear
reactors with a total capacity of 7,000 MWe.
Presently India have 6,780 MWe of operational nuclear power plants and about 6,700 MWe of
plants under implementation, which will be set up by 2021-22.
The decision comes against the backdrop of recent troubles for India’s international
collaborations in nuclear projects.
While the U.S. deal, involving Toshiba Westinghouse for six reactors in Andhra Pradesh, is
floundering after Westinghouse filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the deal with French company
Areva for reactors in Jaitapur remain mired in negotiations over costing.
Proposed 10 plants would create Rs. 70,000 crore worth of business for domestic manufacturers
and generate about 33,400 jobs.
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India generated 37,674 million units of nuclear energy in 2016-17, according to the Nuclear
Power Corporation of India, at a capacity factor of 80%.
Other Cabinet approvals
Cabinet also approved a coal linkage policy, called the Scheme for Harnessing and Allocating
Koyala Transparently in India (Shakti), that will award fuel supply agreements to coal plants
already holding letters of assurance (LoAs).
Thermal plants holding LoAs will be eligible to sign fuel supply pacts under the new policy after
ensuring that all the conditions are met.
1.7 NTRO now under Intelligence Act
National Technical Research Organisation (NTRO), which reports to the Prime Minister’s Office
(PMO) and the National Security Advisor (NSA) will now have the same
“norms of conduct” as the Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the Research
and Analysis Wing (R&AW).
Home Ministry issued a notification listing NTRO under Intelligence
Organisations (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1985, a demand being made
by the organisation for over a decade now.
Restriction imposed under the Act
The Act prevents employees of a notified agency from forming unions/associations, puts
restrictions on the employee’s freedom of speech, bars any communication with the press, or
publishing a book or other document without the permission of the head of the intelligence
organisation.
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Both IB and R&AW have on earlier occasions opposed the inclusion of any other organisation in
the list of monitoring agencies under the Act.
About NTRO
NTRO was created after the 1999 Kargil conflict as a dedicated technical intelligence agency.
It has been fighting tooth and nail to get included in the list as it has the right to lawfully
intercept and monitor communications externally.
In the schedule to the Intelligence Organisations (Restriction of Rights) Act, 1985 after serial number 3
and the entries relating thereto, the following shall be inserted namely-The National Technical Research
Organisation.
1.8 ICJ stays Jadhav execution
International Court of Justice (ICJ) stayed the execution of former Indian naval officer
Kulbhushan Jadhav, in a move swiftly welcomed by the government but dismissed by Pakistan.
ICJ ordered Pakistan to “take all measures at its disposal” to prevent the execution of Mr.
Jadhav, pending its final judgment.
The court accepted India’s argument that the failure by Pakistan to provide required consular
notification and access fell under the scope of Article 1 of the Optional Protocol of the Vienna
Convention of Human Rights.
Pakistan should now inform the court about the steps it takes to implement the order.
The ICJ judges are clear that these provisional measures are binding and create international
legal obligations for the country to which they are addressed.
The ICJ has rejected Pakistan’s objections regarding the urgency of the matter. It rejected
Pakistan’s own jurisdiction to take up the case and its claim that a 2008 bilateral agreement
between the two countries precluded the matter from being raised before the ICJ.
About International Court of Justice
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is the principal judicial organ of the United Nations (UN).
It was established in June 1945 by the Charter of the United Nations and began work in April
1946.
The seat of the Court is at the Peace Palace in The Hague (Netherlands). Of the six principal
organs of the United Nations, it is the only one not located in New York (United States of
America).
The Court’s role is to settle, in accordance with international law, legal disputes submitted to it
by States and to give advisory opinions on legal questions referred to it by authorized United
Nations organs and specialized agencies.
The Court is composed of 15 judges, who are elected for terms of office of nine years by the
United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. It is assisted by a Registry, its
administrative organ. Its official languages are English and French.
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1.9 Survival of newborns India ranks lower than Somalia
Newborns in India have a lesser chance of survival than babies born in Afghanistan and
Somalia, according to the latest Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study published in the medical
journal The Lancet.
In the GBD rankings for healthcare access and quality (HAQ), India has fallen 11 places, and
now ranks 154 out of 195 countries.
Further, India’s healthcare index of 44.8 is the lowest among the sub-continental countries, as
Sri Lanka (72.8), Bangladesh (51.7), Bhutan (52.7), and Nepal (50.8) all fared better.
India’s Health care performance last year
India’s downward slide in the rankings indicates that it has failed to achieve health care
targets, especially those concerning neonatal disorders, maternal health, tuberculosis, and
rheumatic heart disease.
In the case of neonatal mortality, on a scale of 1 to 100, India scored 14 in the HAQ index, while
Afghanistan scored 19/100 and Somalia, 21/100. Access to tuberculosis treatment in India was
scored 26 out of 100, lower than Pakistan (29), Congo (30) and Djibouti (29).
For diabetes, chronic kidney diseases, and congenital heart diseases, India scored 38, 20, and 45,
respectively.
Global Burden Diseases
The Global Burden
of Diseases,
Injuries, and Risk
Factors study is put
together by the
Institute for Health
Metrics and
Evaluation (IHME),
an independent
population health
research centre
associated with the University of Washington, along with a consortium of 2,300 researchers in
more than 130 countries.
The HAQ Index is based on death rates from 32 ailments that could be avoided by timely
medical intervention.
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2. International News
2.1 South Korea elected new President
South Korea just elected a new president Moon Jae-in of the liberal
Democratic Party had a career human rights lawyer and the son of North
Korean refugees.
He vowed to tackle immediately the difficult tasks of addressing North
Korea's advancing nuclear ambitions and soothing tensions with the
United States and China.
Moon stated in his first speech as president he would begin efforts to
defuse security tensions on the Korean peninsula and negotiate with
Washington and Beijing to ease a row over a U.S. missile defense
system being deployed in the South.
2.2 Belt-Road Initiative (BRI)
68 countries are now part of BRI initiative.
It is a $900 billion infrastructure project.
It reaches 4.4 billion people and up to 40% of global GDP.
The road stretches from China to Europe to improve trade.
Project is funded by China development Bank, EXIM Bank of China, AIIB and New Development
Bank.
China to invest $800 bn in Belt & Road in 5 years
Chinese investments related to the Belt and Road initiative have totalled $60 billion since 2013,
and Beijing plans to invest $600 billion to $800 billion in the next five years.
China Development Bank and the Export-Import Bank of China have extended $110 billion in
loans for the Belt and Road projects by the end of 2016.
China has signed currency swap deals with the countries along the Belt and Road routes totaling
900 billion yuan.
India skips B&R Forum
India decided to boycott the One Belt One
Road project as a part of it passes through
the Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir.
India had got the official invite to attend
the six forums. All the South Asian
countries barring India have already
signed up for OBOR.
Xi evokes panchasheel as India skips meet
Chinese President Xi Jinping proposed five principles of peaceful co-existence or Panchsheel — the brainchild of China, India and Myanmar in the 1950s.
He Proposed it as the mantra for advancing the Belt and Road Initiative (B&RI), and as a vehicle for achieving sustainable globalisation.
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Reason for India’s Objection
India’s primary objection to the OBOR that it sees as a ‘unilateral’ or ‘national’ initiative of China
is that one of its subsets – China-Pakistan Economic Corridor traverse through Gilgit-Batlistan
that India considers to be its territory.
India categorically stated that connectivity projects must "respect sovereignty and territorial
integrity".
India also hinted at how OBOR projects have been creating bad debt in countries where the
projects have been undertaken.
Importance of India’s participation in China’s BR initiative
Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) — which already has contracts of over $1 trillion covering over 60 countries — as enlarging areas of cooperation; and push for India as the southern node and a ‘Digital Asia’.
India cannot be a $10 trillion economy by 2032 without integrating itself with the growing Asian market and its supply, manufacturing and market networks.
Complementing to China’s Initiative, New Delhi should develop common standards with the fastest growing economies in Asia that are on the periphery of the B&R Initiative, such as Bangladesh, Vietnam and Indonesia, to facilitate trade, investment and business engagement.
It offers a new cooperation framework in South Asia around global challenges. For example, sharing meteorological reports, region specific climate research and the ‘Aadhaar’ digital experience, despite on-going security concerns.
Hinduism and Buddhism spread to East and South-East Asia with commerce and an urbanising Asia and world, and needs a new organising principle around shared prosperity — principles that dominated India till 1800 making it the world’s richest country for over two millennia.
Despite their territorial dispute, strategic differences and military deployment in the South China Sea, China and Japan have just agreed to strengthen financial cooperation, and the Forum could provide an impetus to settling the border dispute between India and China.
The BRI seeks “complementarities between a countries’ own development strategy and that of others”, though its goals have yet to be formalised, and India would lend a powerful voice to a strategy and structure that ensures common goals will not be neglected.
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3. Polity and Governance
3.1 SC plans to go paperless
Supreme Court launched Integrated Case Management Information System (ICMIS) will allow a
litigant to digitally file a case and watch its progress on a real-time basis.
The system will help litigants access data and retrieve
information online. It will be a step towards a paperless
Supreme Court.
Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar proposed to integrate the
system with all the 24 High Courts and the subordinate
courts. It would help usher in transparency, reduce
manipulation and help the litigant track the progress of a case on a real time basis.
Chief Justice had urged High Court judges to work for a few days during the summer break.
Over 61,000 cases are pending in the apex court, while the 24 High Courts have 38.70 lakh
pending cases, government data shows.
3.2 Voluntary Unemployment rising: NITI
Niti Aayog flagged a dramatic rise in voluntary unemployment across the country, where
people choose not to work below a certain income level after ‘investing’ in education.
The trouble with current official data on labour and
employment is that they can be used to claim ‘jobless
growth’ as well as ‘growth-less jobs’ — and fail to capture
the pre-dominantly informal and unorganised nature of
the Indian economy.
NITI Aayog also pointed out that India need 10 to 12
million new jobs to provide employment opportunities to the young Indian Population.
The primary growth in jobs will come from the services sector. Even when reforms happen in
agriculture, most of the jobs will be created in areas that will show up in national income
accounts as services such as transportation, logistics.
3.3 Minority status only if trusts enrol on NITI site
Educational trusts and societies seeking minority status will now be required to register as
non-governmental organisation with the NITI Aayog, whether they are seeking government aid
or not.
The registration with the NITI Aayog portal Darpan is likely to put all the financial transactions
of the trust and its office-bearers under government scanner as details such as PAN and Aadhaar
of all trustees and office-bearers will be required for the enrolment.
The National Commission for Minority Educational Institutions stated this rule will not be
applicable to institutions run by individuals.
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The government had made it mandatory for NGOs and voluntary organisations to register
with the NITI Aayog portal to enable them to apply for grants from any Ministry. However, the
trusts and NGOs not seeking government funding were not required to do so.
The Constitution of India gives linguistic and religious minorities a fundamental right to
establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
Rights of Minorities in Indian Constitution
The Indian constitution enshrines various provisions for the protection of the rights and interest of the
minorities.
India declares herself a secular state. No particular religion or the religion of the overwhelming
majority, has been made the religion of the state.
Article 29 give the religious and linguistic minorities right to establish and manage educational
institutions of their own. The minorities have been given the unrestricted rights to promote and
preserve their own culture.
Article 30 is vital to the protection and preservation of rights of the minorities. The minorities
have been given the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
The state also cannot discriminate against educational institutions established and managed by
the minorities in matters of granting aids.
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4. Economy
4.1 GST to herald a new era in federalism: RBI
The Goods and Services Tax (GST), which is likely to be introduced
from July 2017, is set to usher in a new era of cooperative
federalism, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) observed in its report
on State finances.
Expected Outcomes of GST
The successful implementation of GST would help boost
revenue through easier tax administration, supported by user-friendly IT systems.
It is expected to reduce administrative costs for collection of tax revenue and improve revenue
efficiency.
Moreover, uniformity in tax rates and procedures across the country will economise on
compliance cost.
4.2 Centre cuts UDAN levy on air tickets
Civil Aviation Ministry has decided to significantly
reduce the levy on air tickets imposed to fund the
Centre’s new regional connectivity scheme UDAN.
From June 1, it will only charge a uniform levy of
₹5,000 per flight on major routes, down from ₹7,500-
₹8,500 per flight it had ordered to charge earlier.
The move will come as a relief to passengers taking
flights on major domestic routes as each passenger
will have to bear about ₹30 as cess against about ₹50 as per government’s previous order in
November 2016.
The Centre had ordered imposing a levy of ₹7,500 for flights up to 1,000 km, ₹8,000 for flights
between 1,000 and 1,500 km and ₹8,500 for flights beyond 1,500 km, except north-eastern
states and regional routes, effective from December 1.
A reduction in levy is also seen as government’s efforts to bring domestic airlines on board its
UDAN scheme as most domestic airlines refused to charge a levy on air tickets.
UDAN Scheme
As per the UDAN scheme, airfares on all flights operating from regional airports will be capped
at ₹2,500 for an hour’s journey.
The Centre will provide subsidy to fund the losses incurred by airlines through a regional
connectivity fund.
While 80% of the fund will be financed by the levy imposed on air tickets, the rest 20% will
flow from respective state governments.
4.3 Cash is back as digital payment dip on costs
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Cash transactions are beginning to trump almost every form of digital payment alternative
with April clocking a decline in volumes as well as value of transactions conducted through
cards, mobile banking and the Unified Payment Interface (UPI).
The trend assumes significance six months after the Centre announced demonetisation of
₹500 and ₹1,000 notes on November 8.
The near-completion of the remonetisation process
and merchant’s unwillingness to pay user charges
also known as Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) to
banks has resulted in a slump in demand for new
point of sale (PoS) devices, according to industry
players.
The RBI’s database shows that Immediate Payment
Service (IMPS) transactions contracted 3.4% in
volume and 0.5% in value in April 2017 compared
with the previous month. In contrast, December saw
a growth of 46% and 33% in the volume and value of
IMPS transactions.
Similarly, the volume of UPI transactions grew only
about 11% in April, down from 47% in March. The
value of these transactions contracted 8% in April as
opposed to a growth of 25% in March. Card transactions contracted 3.6% in volume and 1.1% in
value over the same period.
Merchant Discount Rate (MDR)
The rate charged to a merchant by a bank for providing debit and credit card services. The rate
is determined based on factors such as volume, average ticket price, risk and industry.
The merchant must set up this service with a bank, and agree to the rate prior to accepting
debit and credit cards as payment.
The average merchant discount rate is between 1-3%. However, for online merchants, the rate
tends to be higher. This applies to merchants that deal both online and in-store. They will often
pay a higher rate for their online sales.
4.4 Foreign food retailers can sell non-foods too
Centre is expected to pave the way for multi-brand foreign retailers to tap the Indian market, by
allowing overseas investors in the food retail segment to offer ‘Made in India’ non-food items as
well.
While India’s $600 billion retail sector, with 70% of it comprising food, is a ‘mind boggling’
proposition for foreign retailers grappling with stagnating growth in the developed world.
India had opened up 100% FDI in multi-brand food retail and food processing sectors in early
2016.
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4.5 GST council sets rates for most commodities
Setting the stage for rollout of goods and services tax (GST) from July, the Centre and states
decided on rates for specific products which may lead to lower prices for a majority of products
of mass consumption.
The idea is to ensure that the impact of GST is not inflationary. Rates on 1,211 items were
finalised by the GST council with 81% facing a levy of up to 18%. There is no increase (in burden)
on any commodity.
Proposed GST rates
Milk, cereals (unpackaged and unbranded), and jaggery will be exempt from any GST, while
sugar, tea, coffee (except instant), and edible oil will be taxed at 5%.
Common use items such as soap, toothpaste, and hair oil, which currently attract a tax rate of
22-24%, will be taxed at 18%. Coal, which is currently taxed at 11.7%, will attract a GST rate of
5%.
Consumer durables will come under the 28% tax bracket, down from the current 30-32% rate.
Capital goods and industrial intermediaries will be taxed at 18%.
According to sources, small petrol and diesel cars will be taxed at 28% with small petrol cars
attracting a cess of 1% and small diesel cars 3%.
Luxury cars will attract a 15% cess in addition to 28% GST. 350 cc bikes will attract a cess of 3%.
Important measures taken by Government
Stressing that no commodity would witness an increase in taxation was an important step
towards rollout of GST from July 1.
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The six categories to be discussed include bidis/cigarettes, footwear, gold, and agriculture
implements. Tax rates on services will also be part of the next agenda.
4.6 GST council finalises rates for services
Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council finalised tax rates for all services, except lottery, under
the new indirect tax regime to be rolled out from July 1.
Services already exempted from tax, such
as healthcare and education, will continue
to enjoy the concession.
The GST Council finalised four tax rates of
5, 12, 18 and 28% to apply on services
including telecom, insurance, hotels and
restaurants under the biggest tax reform
since the Independence.
Travelling on metro, local train and
religious travel including Haj yatra will all
continue to be exempt from GST.
Tax on gold and precious metals will be
taken up at the next meeting of the Council
on 3 June.
E-commerce players like Flipkart, Snapdeal
will have to deduct 1% TCS (tax collected at
source) while making payments to
suppliers.
Entertainment tax will be merged with
service tax under GST and a composite 28%
levy charged on cinema services as well as
gambling or betting at race course.
Hotels and lodges charging per day tariff of
Rs1,000 will be exempt from GST. Rate for
hotels with tariff of Rs1,000 to 2,000 per
day would be 12% while those with tariff of
Rs2,500 to Rs5,000 would be 18%. GST for hotels with tariff above Rs5,000 will be 28%.
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4.7 GST rates could have aided green goods
The Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council’s
treatment of goods such as commercial LPG,
hybrid cars, and renewable energy
components has missed an opportunity to
back environmentally friendly goods,
according to an industry official and an
economist.
The GST Council finalised the rates and cess
for most of the goods under the purview of
the tax. Among these, it set a rate of 18% for
commercial LPG, and 5% for all renewable
energy devices and spare parts.
LPG for domestic use would be taxed at 5%
while LPG used commercially and in cars
would be taxed at 18%.
Under GST, the government would also levy cesses on certain sin and luxury goods, over and
above the highest tax rate of 28%.
In this system, it has clubbed together sport-utility vehicles (SUVs), which usually have higher
emission levels, and hybrid vehicles, and set the cess at 15%.
At the same time, the cess on ultra-luxury products like private planes and yachts has been set
at a relatively low 3%.
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5. Science and Tech
5.1 Spyder Surface to Air Missile test fired
India test fired a surface-to-air missile ‘Spyder’ from a test range in Odisha as part of missile launch
practice of a series of tests of the short-range quick reaction.
Spyder Missile
Spyder (Surface-to-air PYthon and DERby) is an acquired missile system from Israel which is a
short-range, quick reaction surface-to-air missile.
It neutralises enemy targets up to a distance of 15 km
and at heights between 20-and-9,000 metres.
Spyder is shorter than India’s indigenously developed
surface-to-air ‘Akash’ missile
It is an all-weather missile which has an automatic
process of engaging an aggressive aircraft or missile.
5.2 Global Cyberattack affecting 150 countries
A global cyber-attack has been underway, affecting more than 200,000 organisations in 150
countries.
The worldwide “ransomware” cyberattack spread to thousands of more computers as people
logged in at work, disrupting business, schools, hospitals and daily life.
The initial attack, known as “WannaCry,” paralysed computers running factories, banks,
government agencies and transport systems in scores of countries, including Russia, Ukraine,
Brazil, Spain, India and Japan, among others.
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WannaCry – Ransomeware
The "WannaCry" ransomware appears to have used a flaw in Microsoft's software.
Ransomware, which demands payment after launching a cyber attack, has become a rising trend
among hackers looking for a quick payout.
What is Ransomware?
Ransomware is a kind of cyber attack that involves hackers taking control of a computer system
and blocking access to it until a ransom is paid.
For cyber criminals to gain access to the system they need to download a type of malicious
software onto a device within the network. This is often done by getting a victim to click on a
link or download it by mistake.
Once the software is on a victim's computer the hackers can launch an attack that locks all files
it can find within a network. This tends to be a gradual process with files being encrypted one
after another.
What is Wanna Decryptor?
Wanna Decryptor, also known as WannaCry or wcry, is a specific ransomware program that
locks all the data on a computer system and leaves the user with only two files: instructions on
what to do next and the Wanna Decryptor program itself.
When the software is opened it tells computer users that their files have been encryted, and
gives them a few days to pay up, warning that their files will otherwise be deleted. It demands
payment in Bitcoin, gives instructions on how to buy it, and provides a Bitcoin address to send it
to.
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Most computer security companies have ransomware decryption tools that can bypass the
software.
Why ransomware demands Bitcoin?
Ransomware often demands between 0.3 and 1 Bitcoins (£400 - 1,375), but can demand a
payment denominated in dollars but made via Bitcoin.
The digital currency is popular among cybercriminals because it is decentralised, unregulated
and practically impossible to trace.
5.3 India’s first nuclear uterine transplant performed
A team of 12 doctors at the city’s Galaxy Care Laparoscopy Institute (GCLI) successfully
completed the highly complex and delicate procedure of India’s first uterine transplant on a
woman from Solapur district.
The woman suffers from congenital absence of uterus and is to be fitted with her mother’s
womb to enable her to conceive normally.
According to team members, the surgery was successful. While the donor’s health is fine, the
recipient has been placed under a 24-hour observation.
Still in its nascent, experimental stage, only a handful of these operations have met with success
in other countries, primarily in Sweden.
The operations are meant to help women who want to conceive but cannot because they were
born without uterus, suffered damage to it or had to have it removed.
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Earlier Uterus transplant surgeries
In 2012, doctors at the University of Gothenburg in Sweden led by Dr. Mats Brännström
performed nine uterus transplants, resulting in five births.
The first baby, born to the recipient in 2014, was delivered prematurely through Caesarean
section, and was healthy.
The first uterine transplant in the U.S., which was performed in February 2016 on a 26-year-old
woman from Texas, Lindsey MacFarland, at a Cleveland clinic in Ohio.
It was the first of 10 uterine transplants planned by the clinic, in an experimental programme
meant to enable women without uterus to become pregnant and give birth.
In April 2000, a woman who received uterus transplant in Saudi Arabia (considered to be the
world’s first uterus transplant) needed the organ removed barely three months after the
operation. In that case, the organ deteriorated after clots blocked the blood supply.
Another woman in Turkey received uterus transplant from a deceased donor in 2011, and while
she was able to conceive, she unfortunately miscarried.
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6. Environment / Geography
6.1 GEAC gives nod for GM Mustard
Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), India's apex regulator for genetically modified seeds,
cleared GM mustard for environmental release and use in farmer fields. However, the approval is
contingent on a final nod from Environment Minister.
GM Mustard
The GM mustard Dhara Mustard Hybrid - DMH -11, developed by a Delhi University institution,
is only the second food crop which got its clearance from the central regulator.
The GEAC had earlier in 2010 cleared the Bt Brinjal but the decision was not accepted by
environment minister.
Currently, only Bt Cotton - a non-food GM crop - is commercially cultivated in the country.
Opposition to GM mustard crops
Decision of the GEAC was vehemently opposed by environmentalists
GM crops fearing the reliance on expensive seeds patented by multinationals like Monsanto.
Safety of food produced by way of GM crops is not guaranteed.
Why GM Mustard crop needed
GM crops are superior as they are resistant to pests and diseases—implying lower usage of
pesticides
Increase in the yield of crops by 30-60% from the present non-GM seeds.
6.2 Traffic pollution reaches the Himalayas
India’s notorious traffic pollution is no longer an urban malaise, its impact is now being felt
4,000 metres above sea level, in the Himalayas.
Geologists have found high levels of sulphur from diesel emissions along the Manali-Leh
highway that snakes through the northwestern Himalayas.
Soil samples from four sites along the 480 km highway were tested for 10 heavy metals and
sulphur among other chemicals.
Indian diesel contains some of the highest concentrations of sulphur in the world and an
estimated 70% of automobiles running on Indian roads use diesel.
Experts caution that the accumulation of sulphur can cause soil acidification. Excessive sulphur
can, besides, be toxic to humans and animals.
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6.3 Yellow eyed Penguins could be wiped out in 25 years
New Zealand’s iconic Yellow-eyed penguins may go extinct within the next 25 years due to
rising ocean temperatures and climate change, unless urgent conservation actions are
undertaken, a new study has warned.
Researchers from the University of Otaga in New
Zealand predict that the breeding success of the
penguins will continue to decline to extinction by
2060, largely due to rising ocean temperatures.
The study highlights where conservation efforts could
be most effective in building penguins’ resilience
against climate change.
Increasing sea surface temperatures in part explain
the negative trend in penguin numbers, according to the researchers.
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7. Health Issues
7.1 Multi-Drug Resistant TB will rise in India says new study
A study published online in the Lancet Infectious Disease journal has forecast an increase in
drug-resistant tuberculosis cases in the four high-burden countries, including India.
It suggested that person-to-person transmission will become the engine that drives drug-
resistant tuberculosis in these countries.
By 2040, 12.4 per cent, or an eighth, of TB cases in India will be multi-drug-resistant, up from 7.9
per cent in 2000.
Nearly 40% of all drug-resistant cases occur in Russia, India, the Philippines, and South Africa –
accounting for more than 230,000 cases of drug-resistant disease in 2015.
Of the multi-drug-resistant cases, one in 10 are expected to be extensively drug-resistant by
2040.
According to health ministry figures, India has 2.8 million cases of TB every year. Of these, 2.8
per cent are new cases of multi-drug resistance while another 11.2 are acquired cases of multi-
drug resistance.
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8. India and World
8.1 India aims to boost to trade ties with Africa
India has extended credit totalling $7.6 billion to African nations and aims to use the upcoming
annual meeting of the African Development Bank in Gujarat to
strengthen its trade ties with the continent.
As on March 31, 2017, India has extended 152 lines of credit to
44 African nations amounting to $7.6 billion.
The African Development Bank (AfDB) has 81 member countries,
57 of which are from Africa. India is among the other 24 non-
regional members.
Indian companies have invested $72 billion in African nations as of 2014-15 this made up 20% of
the total investment in those countries.
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9. Short News
9.1 Navy saves ship from pirates
Deploying its ship INS Sharda, the Navy rescued a merchant vessel, m.v. Lord Mountbatten,
from a piracy attempt in the Gulf of Aden.
The ship received a distress call from m.v. Lord Mountbatten, 230
nm [nautical miles] south-west of Salalah in the Gulf of Aden. The
vessel had reported an incident of attempted piracy by two
suspicious mother vessels along with 7-8 skiffs.
In April, the Navies of India and China jointly foiled a hijack
attempt on a bulk cargo carrier in the Gulf of Aden.
9.2 PM calls for evergreen revolution in the country
Prime Minister pitched for an "evergreen revolution" to enable the country to meet the
challenge faced by the agriculture sector.
He emphasised the need for moving from the concept of 'food security' to 'nutrition security',
for which he favoured the scientific and technological intervention.
He stated that government is working in this direction as part of its "dream" to ensure that the
farmers' income doubles by 2022, when the country celebrates its 75th Independence day.
Malnutrition is a challenge and therefore the pulses need to have improved nutrition quotient.
The "economic imbalance" among various regions of the country and said this needs to be
addressed because "the country cannot run for long with the imbalance.