Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Current News Analysis
24-10-2016
A. GS1 Related
B. GS2 Related
1. CJI said Justice delay keeps investors away
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/justice-delay-keeps-investors-away-
cji/article9258808.ece
Category: Indian Polity
Topic: Judiciary
Key Points:
Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur said foreign investors continue to be wary of
India’s labyrinthine and delayed justice delivery mechanism. Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and CJI mutually agreed that India is a bright spot in the global
economy. But the top judge, in a reality check, pointed out that India continues to be
one of the lowest ranked in the ‘Ease in Doing Business’ list of countries.
CJI further said India has over 3,000 foreign companies with operations in India. In
2015-16, there has been a 29 percent increase in foreign direct investments. India
wishes to overtake China and the United States by 2050. Yet we are ranked 130
among a total 189 countries in the Ease of Doing Business. He said investors feel
that Indian courts would delay justice due to them. The need for strengthening our
judicial system is deeply connected to our ambition for economic growth.
According to him, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms like arbitration,
mediation and conciliation would become effective only if backed by a robust justice
delivery system steered by conventional courts. Civil courts should be able to hear
and decide challenges to arbitration awards in a time-bound manner. But in India, an
average 18,000 judge’s deal with 50 million cases annually, of which 20 million cases are disposed of.
Indicating that the rush of litigation to the courts reflected the immense public faith
in the judiciary, the Prime Minister said it was time for initiatives like arbitration to
be aggressively pushed to match the changing scenario in business and investments.
2. Centre plans to link varsity autonomy to performance
http://www.thehindu.com/news/centre-plans-to-link-varsity-autonomy-to-
performance/article9258600.ece
Category: Central plans and programs
Topic: Education
Key Points:
Union Human Resource Development Ministry is considering linking the autonomy
of higher education institutions to their performance as measured by the National
Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF). The Ministry is thinking of dividing
universities in three categories - A, B and C on the basis of their NIRF rankings.
The A category will comprise institutions with high NIRF rank and these will be
highest on the autonomy scale, the B category will comprise middle-ranking
institutions with part autonomy but also government regulation, and category C will
mean institutions with low ranking that will require greater regulation and hand-
holding for improvement.
Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said greater autonomy could imply a
number of things, including the complete freedom for institutions to have their own
syllabi and curricula.
Note: NIRF - It is a comprehensive ranking system for universities developed by the
HRD Ministry. The first NIRF rankings were released in 2016. The next round of
NIRF rankings will be published on the first Monday of April 2017.
2016 NIRF rankings - IIT Madras topped among engineering colleges, followed by
IITs at Mumbai, Kharagpur, Delhi, Kanpur and Roorkee. IIT Madras had a score of
89.41. Among universities, the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, topped,
followed by the Institute of Chemical Technology in Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru
University in Delhi, Hyderabad University and Tezpur University. Among
management schools, IIM Bengaluru was ranked first with a score of 93.04,
followed by the IIMs at Ahmedabad, Kolkata, Lucknow, Udaipur and Kozhikode.
3. Nagpur SEZ to host Rafale offset manufacturing
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/nagpur-sez-to-host-rafale-offset-
manufacturing/article9258985.ece
Category: National programs and policies
Topic: SEZ to host Rafale fighter jets
Key Points:
An integrated facility will be commissioned in the Reliance Special Economic Zone
(SEZ) at Nagpur by the Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group and its French
partner Dassault shortly for the execution of offset contracts of the just-concluded
deal for 36 French fighters. A significant part of the whopping Rs. 30,000 crore
offsets would be executed through the joint venture, Dassault - Reliance Aerospace.
4 French companies which have a major stake in the Rafale deal - Dassault
Aviation, Thales, Safran and MBDA will execute offsets worth about Rs. 30,000
crore as per their share. The Dassault-Reliance JV will only execute a part of the
offsets because some of the investments have to be done in DRDO for technology
development.
4. John Key’s visit to discuss NSG
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/john-kerrys-india-visit-to-discuss-
nsg/article9258986.ece
Category: Bilateral
Topic: India - New Zealand
Key Points:
The Centre will once again focus on its push for India’s membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) with the visit of New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to
India. Negotiators meanwhile are gearing up for the second round of talks with China
followed by an NSG session in Vienna expected in November, 2016.
New Zealand is among the countries led by China that have demanded a set criteria
for non-signatories of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), holding up
India’s membership, and the issue will be discussed by India and New Zealand.
India will try to convince New Zealand that entry of India to the group was tied to its
need for clean energy and climate change commitments.
Note - After meeting Brazilian President Michel Temer, the India-Brazil joint
statement said, “The Indian side conveyed its aspirations for membership of the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The Brazilian side indicated that it would work with
India and other participating governments of the NSG in that direction.”
Earlier, during a visit to Pretoria in July, 2016 PM of India Narendra Modi had
thanked South Africa for its support at the NSG, but South Africa made no statement
on the subject, and there was no reference to the NSG during the Prime Minister’s meeting with President Zuma in the official readout at the BRICS summit.
NPT conditions: One of the reasons for the silence is that both Brazil and South
Africa fought hard and domestically controversial battles to join the NSG, and could
only do so after they agreed to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty. Therefore, they
have resisted full-fledged membership for India without it signing the NPT, or a
formal procedure being set. Significantly, in 2008, both Brazil and South Africa had
backed India’s bid for an NSG waiver, as part of the IBSA grouping.
5. India, Sri Lanka look at infrastructure partnerships
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/india-sri-lanka-look-at-
infrastructure-partnerships/article9258854.ece
Category: Bilateral
Topic: India – Sri Lanka
Key Points:
India and Sri Lanka discussed potential India-Sri Lanka partnerships in areas such
as transport, energy and infrastructure. Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar, in Sri Lanka
on an economic diplomacy initiative, is accompanied by an official delegation from
public sector companies such as GAIL, NTPC, IOC and RITES.
On the agenda are discussions on likely partnerships in the power sector using
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG), developing the Trincomalee Oil Farm and expansion
of the airports in Palally in Jaffna Peninsula and Colombo, among other projects.
Following Sri Lanka’s decision in September, 2016 to scrap an NTPC-aided power
project in the strategically-important Trincomalee, India has offered to partner the
country in LNG and solar power initiatives.
India and Sri Lanka are also negotiating a trade deal, the Economic and
Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) which would be signed by end of
December, 2016.
6. India falls short in female literacy
http://www.thehindu.com/data/india-falls-short-in-female-
literacy/article9259221.ece
Category: International reports and indices
Topic: Female Literacy
Key Points:
Data from new research on female literacy show that India’s school education system is under-performing in terms of quality when compared to its neighbours -
Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. The research studies changes in female literacy
over a number of schooling years.
Findings of the New York-based International Commission on Financing Global
Education Opportunity - The proportion of women who completed five years of
primary schooling in India and were literate was 48 per cent, much less than 92
percent in Nepal, 74 per cent in Pakistan and 54 per cent in Bangladesh. The data also
revealed that, female literacy rates went up by one to 15 per cent after completing
two years of schooling. Corresponding numbers for Pakistan and Nepal were 3 to 31
per cent and 11 to 47 per cent respectively.
For this research, the authors devised a way to measure the quality of education
around the world, with a specific focus on girls, using data from nationally
representative Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) - one of the most
comparable data sources on living standards in the developing world.
India ranks low in global indices of female literacy as well. If countries are ranked
by the earliest grade at which at least half of the women are literate - a proxy for
quality of learning India ranks 38th among the 51 developing countries for which
comparable data is available. Indonesia, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Tanzania all rank
higher than India. Ghana is placed at the bottom. According to this study, just seven
per cent of female students in Ghana can read after attaining their sixth grade.
C.GS3 Related
1. Rate cut: Economic panacea for all ills?
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/rate-cut-economic-panacea-for-
all-ills/article9258782.ece
Category: Economy
Topic: Monetary Policy
Key Points:
Quite predictably, a good part of the media and a good number of commentators
have applied ornithological metaphors to describe the 25-basis points cut in the
policy rate by the RBI in its fourth bi-monthly monetary policy review for this fiscal
held on October 4. ‘The inflation hawk has gone - and the doves on Mint Street
have started to flap their wings’. The policy repo rate is now 6.25 per cent - a 6 year
low. The RBI expects the transmission of this cut in lowering the costs of new
borrowing in the economy will be more effective than the earlier cuts.
In one respect, the fourth bi-monthly policy review exercise this year is historic: it
involved the maiden decision-making by RBI's first Monetary Policy Committee
(MPC), in pursuance of a primary mandate to keep consumer inflation between 2 per
cent and 6 per cent. That the adoption of a legally backed inflation-targeting
discipline and the constitution of an MPC will enhance both the process and
quality of monetary policy-making is widely acknowledged. However, it is equally
important for the MPC to establish its institutional credibility by demonstrating that
its decision-making framework is logical, consistent, transparent and effective.
Gauged by those standards, the first rate decision of the MPC does not inspire much
confidence, though.
Three-fold impact: As regards the impact of the rate cut, three issues loom large: credit growth, stressed assets/NPAs of banks and corporate investment. Extremely sluggish credit growth on the part of PSU banks to sectors other than retail borrowers is going to last for quite some time. And so long as the credit cost by way of provisioning for NPAs remains high, as is the case now, the likelihood of a reduction in borrowing cost in response to cuts in the policy rate will continue to be low. Transmission of monetary policy will continue to remain sub-optimal till the estimated Rs.13.3 trillion (or Rs.13.3 lakh crore) of stressed assets/NPAs of banks are resolved. While RBI has done a good job in pushing banks to recognise their NPAs, it has been quiet on the lack of progress in the resolution of stressed assets/NPAs. While the government expects a good number of NPAs to become regular over the next few years, thereby making possible reversal of provisions made against them, there is little evidence of any progress on the ground in this regard. Various schemes for debt resolution such as Corporate Debt Restructuring (CDR), Strategic Debt Restructuring (SDR) and the recent Scheme for Sustainable Structuring of Stressed Assets (S4A) have not had any noticeable impact so far. Illustratively, between 2009-10 and 2014-15, the total number of cases referred to CDR was 253 with an aggregate exposure of Rs.2.76 trillion (Rs 2.76 lakh crore), out of which only 5 cases involving Rs.16 billion (Rs.1,600 crore) have so far exited CDR successfully. SDR has been a non-starter and S4A has yet to take off. The fundamental flaw in current debt resolution schemes is the lack of an enabling mechanism for infusion of fresh equity in the debtor companies. In most cases, fresh equity is unlikely without a repricing of the companies’ assets and liabilities that would lead to proper price discovery of its equity. This will entail an appropriate reduction in the companies’ debt owed to banks. Debt resolution by banks cannot happen if RBI relies only on its directives that are issued in a ‘command and control’ fashion. RBI and government must empower boards of PSU banks to take decisions on one-time settlements and debt write-off on commercial considerations alone, based on well-defined policies and the procedure to be formulated for this purpose.
D. GS4 Related
E. Important Editorials
The Hindu
1. Making cities inclusive
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/making-cities-
inclusive/article9258735.ece
The challenges of a rapidly urbanising world and of providing people with equal
opportunities in cities were the central themes at the just-concluded UN Conference
on Housing and Sustainable Urban Development, Habitat III, in Quito, Ecuador.
As a once-in-a-generation event, the Habitat conference sets a guiding compass for
member-countries for the next 20 years, and attracts wide governmental and civil
society participation.
Yet, the process has to be strengthened to evaluate how countries have fared since
the two previous conferences on issues such as reducing urban inequality, improving
access to housing and sanitation, mobility, and securing the rights of women,
children, older adults and people with disability. Moreover, as services come to
occupy a dominant place in the urban economy, the divide between highly paid
professionals and low-wage workers, the majority, has become pronounced.
All these trends are relevant to India, where 31 per cent of the population and 26 per
cent of the workforce was urban according to Census 2011, with more people moving
to cities and towns each year.
Urban governance policies, although mainly in the domain of the States, must be
aligned with national commitments on reduction of carbon emissions under the Paris
Agreement, and to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 11.
India’s ambition to harness science and data for orderly urbanisation is articulated in a set of policy initiatives, chiefly the Smart Cities Mission and the Atal Mission
for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation. There is little evidence so far that
these could achieve the scale needed to address the contradictions of building 21st
century cities for 20th century industrial technologies.
Today, these conflicts are reflected in the lack of adequate parks and public spaces,
suitable land for informal workers who offer services in a city, egalitarian and non-
polluting mobility options and new approaches to low-cost housing.
In the national report prepared for the Quito conference, the Ministry of Housing and
Urban Poverty Alleviation identified subsidised redevelopment of slums (which
represented 17 per cent of urban households in 2011) involving private agencies, and
low-cost, disaster-resistant, prefabricated constructions as key to the ‘Housing for All’ policy. This important programme should be pursued with a vigorous annual
review that ranks States on the basis of performance. The Centre should also take its
own National Urban Transport Policy on developing cities around mobility networks
seriously, and liberate cities from the tyranny of traffic. UN Habitat plans to review
country-level progress on its New Urban Agenda in Kuala Lumpur in 2018. India’s performance on improving the quality of life in its cities will be watched.
2. Kingdom of bonds
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/kingdom-of-
bonds/article9258741.ece
Last week’s sale of $ 17.5 billion worth of sovereign bonds by Saudi Arabia, a record for an emerging market, was no ordinary affair.
The sale is part of a series of measures the country is taking to extricate itself from
a sticky situation a deeply entrenched structural dependence on oil in a world of
persistently low oil prices, which went from over $110 a barrel in 2012 to below $30
at the start of 2016. This has, not surprisingly, had consequences for the kingdom,
most of whose revenues come from oil. It posted a record $98-billion budget deficit,
or 16 per cent of GDP, in 2015, and is expected to grow at rates less than half of last
year’s, according to the International Monetary Fund.
Riyadh is only too aware of its precarious position. It has moved away from a ‘pump at will’ policy at OPEC, one designed to keep U.S. shale oil in check but that ended up hurting its own economy by pushing down oil prices. Consequently, at next
month’s OPEC meeting Saudi Arabia is likely to accept output cuts, even though
these cuts may not apply to its arch-rival Iran. It has also decreased government
spending, cut public wages and bonuses, and plans an IPO of Saudi Aramco, the state
oil producer, as part of Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s ‘Vision 2030’ reform plan. For now, the bond sale will help close its budget gap and take
pressure off its approximately $550 billion foreign exchange reserves.
The success of the debt issue, oversubscribed with orders totalling $67 billion, is
due to three main factors.
First, despite the high price of the bonds and the long-term economic and geopolitical
risks associated with Saudi Arabia, the yields looked attractive in the context of low
interest rates in developed economies.
Second, oil prices have increased since the beginning of the year and are in the region
of $50 a barrel.
Third, the kingdom’s salesmen are reported to have made a solid pitch on the bond roadshow, addressing investors’ concerns over the undiversified economy and reiterating Saudi Arabia’s commitment to peg the riyal to the dollar. Longer-term
risks remain for the kingdom, notwithstanding the markets’ response to its bonds. A movement towards cleaner fuels and the country’s involvement in wars in Syria and Yemen pose serious risks to its stability. As the era of oil starts drawing to a close,
Saudi Arabia, which has so far ignored the moral case for a gentler, more gender-
equitable and open society, may now be forced to be drawn closer to the rest of the
world.
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:
1. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
Judicial reforms
National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF)
Dassault Rafale
NSG
Renewable Energy
Urban development programs
Sovereign bonds
2. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS
IN NEWS
Links to Refer
Urban development
Monetary Policy Committee
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=151380
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=122788
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=148405
3. Tags
Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement (ETCA)
Trincomalee
NIRF
Practice Questions
Date: 24
th October, 2016
Category: Multilateral
Topic: NSG Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Difficult Type: Conceptual
1. Which of the following statements are correct regarding Nuclear Suppliers Group
(NSG)?
(i) It is a group of nuclear supplier countries that seek to prevent nuclear proliferation
by controlling the export of materials that can be used to manufacture nuclear
weapons.
(ii) India got a waiver from NSG in 2008 to enter International Nuclear commerce.
a) (i) only b) (ii) only
c) Both (i) and (ii) d) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Ans (c)
Date: 24th October, 2016
Category: Economy
Topic: MPC
Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Medium Type: Factual
2. Who heads the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) which was recently constituted by the centre?
a) Union Finance Minister
b) Prime Minister
c) Chief Economic Advisor
d) Governor of RBI
Ans (d)
Date: 24th October, 2016
Category: International organizations Topic: Important agreements
Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Medium Type: Factual
3. The Base Erosion and Profit Sharing agreement appears in news in the context of -
a) Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)
b) International monetary fund (IMF)
c) World Trade Organization
d) World Economic Forum
Ans (a)
Date: 24th October, 2016
Category: Bilateral
Topic: Indo-french Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium Type: factual
4. An integrated facility will be commissioned at the Reliance Special Economic Zone
(SEZ) for the operationalization of Dassault Rafale deal in?
(a) Pune
(b) Nagpur
(c) Mysore
(d) Chitoor
Ans (b)
Date: 24th October, 2016
Category: Bilateral
Difficulty level: Medium Type: Factual
5. Which country recently signed an agreement with India to produce solar and wind energy
in a move to reduce dependence on thermal energy?
a) China b) Sri Lanka
c) Thailand d) South Africa
Ans (b)
Comprehensive News Analysis
25-10-2016
B. GS2 Related
1. Postcards of change
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/op-ed/postcards-of-
change/article9262528.ece
Category: International Relations Topic: India-Myanmar
Key Points:
Two state visits from Myanmar in less than two months — by President Htin Kyaw in August and State Counsellor and Foreign Minister Aung San Suu Kyi in October — have strengthened India-Myanmar relations
Ms. Suu Kyi’s participation in the BRICS-BIMSTEC outreach summit in Goa highlighted Myanmar’s pivotal importance as the land where South Asia, Southeast Asia and China intersect
These developments necessitate a holistic look at Myanmar
Invitation to participate in a conference in Yangon last week on “India-Myanmar Relations: Federalism at Work” is another step
Long road to reconciliation
The decisive victory of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in November 2015 and Ms.
Suu Kyi’s emergence as the de facto leader of the government in April 2016 represent a historic transformation
The NLD-Army relationship has become stable
Happily, political liberties, including “freedom from fear”, are a reality now
Securing national peace and reconciliation is the government’s top priority The Chinese embrace
Ms. Suu Kyi quickly discovered that high-profile foreign policy engagements yield rich
political dividends
She readily chose the role to be Myanmar’s chief diplomat Myanmar’s most-talked-about foreign relationship is with China
But the China connection is stamped with growing unpopularity
Many Myanmarese recognise that a substantial relationship with China, moulded by potent factors, is inevitable, but also believe democratic Myanmar has “other options” that it must leverage fully
This explains why the Suu Kyi government has adopted the Thein Sein line of a balanced and “non-aligned” foreign policy In Context with India
After a slow start, bilateral interaction with democratic Myanmar gathered momentum from June onwards, culminating in two state visits
“Close coordination” in countering anti-India insurgent activity from Myanmarese soil would need more proactive cooperation of the Myanmar Army
Prime Minister Narendra Modi aptly urged Myanmar to show “sensitivity” to India’s strategic interests on a reciprocal basis
The next logical step should be for the two governments to establish a “strategic partnership
India is losing friends because of widespread discontent over continuing delay in completion of our flagship projects — Kaladan (that will connect Kolkata with Sittwe port in Myanmar) and the India-Myanmar-Thailand trilateral highway. Conceived over a decade back, they are scheduled to be completed by 2019
Officials need to develop an effective communication strategy, and a new management mechanism that fast-tracks the flagship projects
Also, despite mutual consensus on the value of people-to-people exchanges, actual progress is negligible due to the absence of an enabling instrument
The setting up of an “India-Myanmar Foundation” merits consideration Conclusion
Until people’s limitless energy is unleashed, India-Myanmar relations may not scale new heights
As Ms. Suu Kyi once stated: “… Governments come and governments go. But the peoples of the countries, they remain.”
2. Era of e-postal ballots dawns, courtesy EC’s new initiative
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/era-of-epostal-ballots-dawns-courtesy-ecs-new-initiative/article9262732.ece
Category: Governance Topic: Electoral Reforms
Key Points:
A change in ‘The Conduct of Election Rules, 1961’ now empowers a returning officer in any constituency to send postal ballots to an eligible voter “by electronic means as specified by the Election Commission.”
The change will go a long way in easing logistical issues involved in ensuring that the ballot paper of the constituency, where a voter is eligible to vote, is sent in time
With the new rule, the returning officer can send it through a web portal with a ‘One Time Password’ to voters
The voter needs to download the ballot for voting
However, the “process of physically returning the ballot through post remains unchanged”, another official in the EC explained
In India, postal ballots have played a critical role in extending the electoral process to voters unable to exercise their franchise— due to either the nature of their job or geographical location of their posting
The armed forces best illustrate the point
C. GS3 Related
1. Panagariya defends 4 GST rates and cess
Category: Indian Economy Topic: Taxation
Key Points:
Cess helps
Moving to just two rates or a single GST rate, instead of the four rates in the range proposed by the finance ministry to the GST council, could trigger inflation in some products and services
The cess on GST would help the centre compensate states for revenue
D. GS4 Related
E. Important Editorials
The Hindu
1. Bird flu and what we must do
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/bird-flu-and-what-we-must-
do/article9262622.ece
Category: Social Justice
Topic: Health
Key Points:
Several subtypes and strains of avian influenza viruses are now found around the world, some of them capable of causing death among humans and others inflicting serious losses on poultry farmers
Early detection and identification of the virus subtypes helps in launching containment measures. As a major agricultural nation with a large poultry industry, India has implemented an action plan formulated by the Centre’s Department of Animal Husbandry, Dairying and Fisheries to deal with avian influenza
The outbreaks in Kerala and Karnataka over the past two years have tested the efficacy of the intervention strategy
It came as a relief when on September 5 India declared itself free of the H5N1 virus, identified by the World Health Organisation as the animal influenza virus of greatest concern for human health
Considering that the virus is endemic in parts of Asia and mutates quickly, the need for vigilant monitoring against its reintroduction and spread cannot be overstated
The Delhi government’s finding that the virus associated with the bird deaths in the capital is the H5N8 type hints at the possible role of migratory water fowl, which are known to carry this virus to wintering
A more recent cause for concern has been the virus strain H7N9 that caused serious illness in people mostly in China, but not in birds
On the positive side, the national plan to combat avian influenza relies on a broad-based periodic testing system for farmed birds and wet markets, and upgrading of apex scientific institutions such as the National Institute of High Security Animal Diseases
Border regions that trade in live poultry have a particularly important responsibility to look out for sick birds
Public health messaging, with advice on poultry consumption during a suspected outbreak, is essential to quell any rumours.
2. The perils of plastic
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/the-perils-of-plastic/article9262615.ece
Category: Indian Economy
Topic: Money and Banking
Key Points:
Recently, there was a data breach at 19 Indian banks that has led to more than 32 lakh debit cards being blocked or recalled. This development is a wake-up call for the banking industry.
The Reserve Bank of India and its top officials had been urging bankers for quite some time to accord urgent priority to cyber security.
According to reports, it is believed that data criminals may have infiltrated using malware at ATMs operated by a third-party payment services vendor.
The National Payments Corporation of India has been coordinating investigations into the incident, where a forensic audit is expected to reveal preliminary findings soon.
It is important to note that in today’s world, banks can ill-afford to be complacent and approach incidents such as this latest debit card data breach with band-aid solutions.
Also, Top managements at lenders should reappraise their cyber culture, heed warnings and alerts promptly, and address shortcomings.
Business Line
1. Turmoil at Tatas
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/editorial/turmoil-at-tatas/article9262555.ece
Key Points:
The Tata group — a $103-billion conglomerate that operates in more than a hundred countries, employs 7,00,000 people and has a total market capitalisation of over $125 billion (about 7.5 per cent of BSE’s total) has replaced Chairman Cyrus Mistry.
The Tata group faces the prospect of a legal challenge from Mistry.
It is important to note that Cyrus Mistry remains a director and his family owns a little over 18 per cent of Tata Sons shares.
The Tata group will have to deal with the critical issue of finding a successor.
2. We need Industrial Revolution 4.0
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/we-need-industrial-revolution-40/article9263209.ece
Key Points:
The economic report of the President in the US had sounded warning bells early this year, by highlighting the threat from automation to lesser skilled occupations in manufacturing and services.
The bugle has now been sounded by the latest World Development Report published by the World Bank.
The report warns that up to 69 per cent of existing jobs in India are under threat of automation.
In fact, the threat from automation puts to test the Asian developmental model. A quick look at the Asian Developmental Model
This model rested on state-supported industrialization.
It focused on export orientation using lower production costs as a competitive edge.
Lower production costs were largely on account of lower labour costs in the early stages, and later increases in labour productivity.
Variations of this model have been successful across East Asia. How will India get affected?
With increasing automation, the terms of trade would again shift in favour of owners of intellectual capital and technology.
Also, this would diminish the returns to labour.
This would be a great disadvantage to countries in Asia with large, young working populations, such as India.
India obviously needs an updated policy, Industrial Policy 4.0, to deal with this new paradigm of industrialisation.
It is important to note that capturing a larger share of the ‘industrial revolution 4.0’ would require investment in high-quality skills related to applied science and technology, engineering, quantitative and social analysis, design and product development.
The Indian Express:
1. The Kigali Breakthrough
http://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/kigali-climate-deal-montreal-protocol-eliminate-hfcs-3101115/
Key Points:
The Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol, agreed to by 197 countries , is a milestone agreement.
It will avoid global warming by up to 0.5°C by phasing out hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), a category of greenhouse gases with extremely high global warming potential (GWP).
It is important to note that this amendment is the product of seven years of negotiations.
The Kigali Amendment settled on two baselines and freeze dates for developing countries: The first group (China, African, Latin American and Asian countries) have an early baseline (2020-22) and freeze (2024) while the second group (India, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq and Gulf countries) have a later baseline (2024-26) and freeze (2028).
The Kigali amendment has been described as an equitable agreement for India and other developing countries.
The amendment also allows developing countries to choose between the two baselines, in light of their circumstances.
F. CONCEPTS IN NEWS
1. World Development Report
2. Kigali Amendment
3. BRICS
4. BIMSTEC
Tags:
1. World Development Report
2. Kigali Amendment
3. BRICS
4. BIMSTEC
G. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS
IN NEWS
Links to Refer
India-Myanmar Relations
https://www.mea.gov.in/Portal/ForeignRelation/Myanamr_Feb_2016.pdf
Practice Questions
Date: 25th October, 2016 Category: International Relations Topic: International Organizations Source: Hindu Difficulty level: Moderate Type: Factual
1] Which of the following institutions, releases the ‘World Development Report’?
a. World Bank b. IMF c. International Bank for Reconstruction and Development d. International Finance Corporation
Ans (a)
Date: 25th October, 2016 Category: Geography Topic: Various Parts of the World Source: Hindu Difficulty level: Easy Type: Factual
2] In which of the following countries is the port of Sittwe located?
a. Myanmar
b. Bangladesh
c. Pakistan
d. Sri Lanka
Ans(a)
Date: 25th October, 2016 Category: International Relations Topic: International Organizations
Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Moderate Type: Factual
3] Consider the following statements regarding BIMSTEC,
1. It constitutes of seven Member States: five deriving from South Asia, including
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and two from Southeast Asia, including Myanmar and Thailand.
2. The BIMSTEC region is home to around 1.5 billion people which constitute around 22% of the global population with a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of 2.7 trillion economy.
Which among the above statements are correct?
a. Only 1 b. Only 2 c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans(c)
Date: 25TH October, 2016 Category: International Relations Topic: International Organizations Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Moderate Type: Factual
4] Consider the following statements regarding BRICS?
i. The Eighth BRICS Summit, was held at Goa, under the theme “Building Responsive, Inclusive and Collective Solutions.”
ii. BRICS brings together five major emerging economies, comprising 43% of the world population, having 30% of the world GDP and 17% share in the world trade.
a. Only 1 b. Only 2 c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans(c)
Date: 25th October, 2016 Category: Science and Technology
Topic: Developments- Bird Flu Source: Hindu Difficulty level: Moderate Type: Factual
5] Which of the following is true?
i. H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian (bird) flu virus that has caused serious outbreaks
in domestic poultry in parts of Asia and the Middle East. ii. Human cases of H5N1 avian influenza occur occasionally, but it is difficult to
transmit the infection from person to person.
a. Only 1 b. Only 2 c. Both 1 and 2 d. Neither 1 nor 2
Ans(c)
Current News Analysis
26-10-2016
A. GS1 Related
B. GS2 Related
1. Suicide bomb assault on Pakistan police academy.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/61-dead-as-militants-attack-pakistan-police-
academy/article9268835.ece
Category: international relations
Topic: terrorism
Key Points:
Pakistan mourned the killing of at least 61 people in a brutal gun and suicide
bomb assault on a Balochistan police academy in quetta, the deadliest attack on a
se u it i stallatio i the ou t s histo . Islamic State claims responsibility and puts out photo of attackers but Army
official blames Pakistan-affiliated Lashkar-e-jhangvu( LeJ).
An email from the Pakistani Taliban, which shares close operational ties with the
LeJ,claimed that This as to a e ge the killi g of those of ou Mujahidee [i fake e ou te s] outside jails i Pu ja ,
Balochistan officials had received intelligence reports that some terrorists have
entered the province but had no indication about possible targets.
Pakista sa s this a is t o e .
2. Tatas gird for legal challenge
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tatas-gird-for-legal-
challenge/article9268828.ece
Category: governance in corporate institutions.
Topic: administration.
Key Points:
A day after the Tata Sons board sacked Cyrus Mistry and named Ratan Tata as
interim chairman, the Tatas filed caveats to pre-empt Mr. Mistry from obtaining
any ex-parte relief against his sudden ouster.
A caveat is a notice filed by a party, fearing legal action, seeking notice before
action.
Ratan Tata took charge as an interim chairman of tata sons and addressed the
senior leaders of the companies to focus on their market position .however, Ratan
Tatas return failed to cheer Tata groups stocks.
Is the removal of an Executive Chairman by the board an oppressive act? The
answer requires a scrutiny of facts. If the board removes an Executive Chairman
from performing his executive duties, it is only the removal of an executive of the
company. Hence, it requires no shareholder approval.
Also according to legal experts. e o al as hai a of the oa d e ui es solel a majority show of hands at the board meeting. Notice period may be a
requirement of a particular employment contract, the contents of which are
u k o ,
Urgent business-Section 173 of the Companies Act allows urgent business to be
transacted at a meeting of the board with a notice period of less than seven days if
the meeting is also attended by one independent director . The Tata Trusts,
according to legal circles, seems to have dispensed with the notice requirement
while conveying their decision to remove the Chairman.
3. No-detention policy likely to remain in Karnataka.
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/nodetention-
policy-likely-to-remain-in-state/article9268885.ece
Category: governance.
Topic: education.
Key Points:
No-detention policy - S ste of edu atio hi h e su es that o hild is failed until they complete elementary education (class 8).
The Central Advisory Board of Education (CABE), the apex body of the Ministry of
the Human Resource Development, gave individual States the authority to decide
on the no-detention clause.
CABE is the highest advisory body in the country on education and comprises the
Centre as well as States. It decisions are, however, recommendatory in nature.
Section 30 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act
stipulates that no child shall be required to pass any board examination until class
VIII.
One of the agendas of the CABE meeting held in New Delhi on Tuesday was to
review the no-detention policy. It was decided to amend the RTE Act in a manner
that it provides flexibility for States to review the provisions. While majority of the
States batted for removal of the clause, Karnataka was one of the few that
advocated for the clause to remains.
Most of the States complained of deteriorating learning outcomes because of the
No Dete tio poli a d e p essed thei opi io that e a s should e o du ted in classes V and VIII.
4. SC declines to go into Hindutva verdict
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-declines-debate-on-20yearold-verdict-
defining-hindutva/article9266394.ece
Category: Indian constitution
Topic: India – nationalism
Key Points:
A seven-judge Bench, led by Chief Justice of India T.S. Thakur, clarified that
the Supreme Court is presently only examining what constitutes corrupt
electoral practices under Section 123 (3) of The Representation of the
People Act, 1951,and it would not be going into the larger issue of whether
'Hindutva' means the Hindu religion.thus bench rejected the plea to check
consequences of 1995 judgement.
The supreme court in 1995 judgment defined Hindutva or Hinduism as a
"way of life" and nothing to do with "narrow fundamentalist Hindu
religious bigotry". Also , the supreme court stated "no precise meaning can
be ascribed to the terms `Hindu', `Hindutva' and `Hinduism'; and no
meaning in the abstract can confine it to the narrow limits of religion alone,
excluding the content of Indian culture and heritage".
5. Indian and Pakistan communities make common cause in U.S. election
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/indian-pak-communities-make-
common-cause-in-us-election/article9268066.ece
Category: International relations
Topic: welfare
Key Points:
Both Indian and Pakistan communities share a common goal to prevent Trump from
becoming the next US president-says democratic party.
Also the pa t stated People ofte i o e tl assu e that i ig a t o u ities ake thei politi al hoi es i the U.“. ased solel o hat is happe i g a k ho e…
the tensions back home between India and Pakistan start becoming less relevant for
those o u ities he e a d it is easie fo the to fi d o o g ou d . This statement was made referring to an organisation called the Republican Hindu
Coalition that hosted Mr. Trump recently in New Jersey.
C.GS3 Related
1. Heathrow runway move gives hope to Indian community in London.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/heathrow-runway-move-gives-hope-
to-indian-community/article9268026.ece
Category: International relation
Topic: Diaspora
Key Points:
The British government has given the nod to the construction of a third runway at
Heathrow, putting to an end a long-running and heated battle since the Second
Wo ld Wa . T a spo t “e eta Ch is G a li g said the o e tous de isio would secure jobs and business opportunities for decades to come
Commission led by Sir Howard Davies concluded that, a third runway at Heathrow
would add the most to the U.K. economy, giving it an estimated £61 billion boost
and adding 77,000 jobs to the local economy by 2030.
2. India up one position in World banks ease of business ranking
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/india-inches-up-a-notch-in-wb-ease-of-
business-ranking/article9267968.ece
Category-Economic development
Topic- Business and corporate governance.
Key Points:
India improved its position to 130 in the World Bank Ease of Doing Business 2017
report.
Report praised the government for the reforms it undertook last year and noted that
India had made a noticeable improvement in the distance to frontier (DTF) score — an
absolute measure of progress towards best practices.
While a ki g is elati e, DTF s o e is a a solute figu e, . I dia as 5th i DTF improvement last yearwith a score of 53.93. India has improved and is at 55.27.(while
the perfect score is 100. New Zealand that is ranked first has a DTF score of 87.01).
Note-Word Bank Doing Business reports, introduced in 2004, review business
regulations and their enforcement across 190 countries .
World bank said four reform measures undertaken by India during the year helped the
country improve its DTF score.They are-
Getting electricity.
paying taxes.
trading across borders and
enforcing contracts .
According to the report- The overhaul of the Companies Act has brought Indian
o pa ies i li e ith glo al sta da ds, pa ti ula l ega di g a ou ta ilit a d
corporate governance practices .
However, the India expressed disappointment over the lack of improvement in India's
ranking in the World Bank's Doing Business report. It said the report did not consider a
dozen key reforms brought out by the government.
3. Doing Business Index: Centre to hold meeting ith 7 lagga d “tates/UTs.
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/doing-business-index-centre-to-
hold-meeting-with-17-laggard-statesunion-territories/article9266462.ece
Category-Economic development
Topic-business reforms
Key Points:
The Centre will soon hold a special high-level meeting with the 7 lagga d States/UTs.This include Kerala among other states and those in the entire North-
Eastern region. They have managed to implement only 25 per cent or below of the
340-poi t Busi ess ‘efo A tio Pla ' that as i ulated i late O to e 5.
The 340 reform areas are broadly under categories including construction permit,
environmental and labour registration, obtaining electricity connection, online tax-
return filing, inspection reform, access to information and transparency, single
window, land availability and commercial dispute resolution.
The pe fo a e o this a tio pla is ei g o side ed fo a “tate- ise ease of doi g usi ess a ki g i the spi it of ' o petiti e a d oope ati e fede alis '. This
ea s “tate-wise ranking will be released shortly by the Centre
The Ce t e s po tal o the ' usi ess efo a tio pla ' has a eal ti e a ki g a d t a ki g of the “tates/UTs o the asis of the i ple e tatio of the efo a tio plan.
At present, there are ten States that have an implementation percentage of 90 per
ce t o o e, a d these ha e ee atego ised as leade s . The u e o e a k is currently being held by two States — Andhra Pradesh and Telengana with a score of
99.09 per cent each.
The e t atego is that of aspi i g leade s — those with an implementation rate
between 60-90 per cent. There are currently seven States in that category, of which
five have an implementation rate of over 80 per cent.
The thi d atego is te ed a ele atio e ui ed — those with an implementation
percentage of 30-60 per cent. There are two States in this category.
The 17 poorly performing States/UTs are those falling in the last category called
ju p-sta t eeded ith a -30 per cent implementation percentage. They include
Kerala (24.92 per cent), Goa (18.82 per cent), Tripura (16.18 per cent), Assam (14.45
per cent), Daman & Diu (14.41 per cent), Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Manipur (1.47 per
cent each), Nagaland & Puducherry (1.18 per cent each), Mizoram & Sikkim (0.59 per
cent each), Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Chandigarh, Meghalaya, Andaman
& Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep (yet to implement any reform).
In its report, the Centre will highlight certain good practices under each head, which it
ill e ou age othe states to adopt. Fo i sta e, u de o st u tio pe it ite io , Tele ga a s good p a ti e is that it has epla ed the e ui e e t of a
official No-Objection Certificate (NOC) with self-certification (provided one has
complied with the required replanting activities).
4. Workplace gender gaps persist: WEF
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/workplace-gender-gaps-persist-
wef/article9267934.ece
category-Indian polity.
Topic-gender issues
Key Points:
Indias global gender gap ranking is 87 in 2016.(108 last year)
The World Economic Forum (WEF) reckons that the gender gap in India has narrowed
down over the past year with the gap closing in primary and secondary education
enrolments .
However, India remains one of the worst countries in the world for women in terms of
labour force participation, income levels as well as health and survival.
World Economic Forum (WEF) which has been compiling the Global Gender Gap report
since 2006 by examining four broad dimensions of gender equality —
economic participation,
education,
health and
politics.
India has closed its gender gap by 2 per cent in a year, but much work remains to be
done to empower women in the economic sphere, the WEF report noted.
The global workplace gender gap, measured in terms of economic participation and
opportunities, is getting worse and stands at the highest level since 2008, according
to the WEF.
Within South Asia, Bangladesh is the top performer (ranked 72nd), recording
progress on the political empowerment gender gap, but a wider gap on wo e s labour force participation and estimated earned income.
5.Bird flu detected in Alappuzha,kerala.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/bird-flu-detected-in-
alappuzha/article9268106.ece
Category-governance
Topic- Health issues
Key Points:
Bird flu (avian influenza), caused by H5N8 virus, has been detected among ducks at
five places in Alappuzha district.( Thakazhy, Kainadi, Ramankary, Neelamperoor and
Pandi).
The H5N8 virus is not as disastrous as H5N1(another variety). There is no harm in
consumption of eggs or meat of unaffected birds. Generally ,the virus is not
transmitted from bird to human beings. In case people in close contact with the
affected birds develop symptoms of fever, they should consult the doctor. Infected
ducks would be isolated and culled.
6. About 5 lakh TB patients went untreated in government clinics.
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/indian-pak-communities-make-
common-cause-in-us-election/article9268066.ece
Category: governance
Topic: Health issues
Key Points:
In 2013, India had about 2.7 million people with Tuberculosis, which is 23 per cent of
the global burden of the disease. India also accounted for 27 per cent (760,000) of the
o ld s issi g patie ts — those may not have received effective TB care or may
have received potentially suboptimal TB care in I dia s p i ate se to .
Currently, smear-negative TB patients are diagnosed using a multi-step diagnostic
workup. As a result, at least 60-80 per cent of patients with negative sputum smear
e e o plete the o kup. While the ‘NTCP is t i g to i ple e t a e diagnostic algorithm for smear-negative TB, the best solution for diagnosing more
smear-negative patients would probably be use of new but more expensive diagnostic
tests such as Xpert MTB/Rif, which diagnoses a substantially greater percentage of
patients with smear-negati e TB, says Dr. Subbaraman
Ironically, 13 per cent (over 200,000) patients who were diagnosed were lost before
the start of treatment — about 16 per cent of smear-positive TB patients and about
10.5 per cent of smear-negative patients.
The e a e a easo s h diag osed TB patie ts do t sta t t eat e t. But the bottom line is that better record keeping and aggressive tracking of newly diagnosed
patients might help to reduce the number of patients who are diagnosed but not
e olled i TB t eat e t, says Dr. Subbaraman.
"For patients with MDR-TB, out of the 61,000 who reached government TB clinics,
only about 11 per cent completed appropriate treatment and survived for one year
after treatment without experiencing disease relapse, " says Prof. Madhukar Pai, a TB
expert from McGill University, Montreal, Canada and one of the authors of the paper.
D. GS4 Related
E. Important Editorials
The Hindu
1. Playing on geopolitical chessboards
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/lead/playing-on-geopolitical-
chessboards/article9267985.ece
The BRICS-BIMSTEC meeting in Goa this month, that immediately followed the
annual India-Russia Summit (also in Goa), capped months of hectic diplomatic
activity, during which India pursued a robust, even aggressive, foreign policy.
Changes, if any, to redefine Indian foreign policy must not take place in an episodic
manner, or as a series of isolated steps
I te atio al diplo a is ha dl a ze o-su ga e . It has ecome even more
complicated with the passage of time. Hence, giving a new direction to the
ou t s fo eig poli de a ds a eful o side atio a d assess e t of all relevant aspects. Systemic, national and decision-making factors must determine
foreign policy choices. Maintaining coherence and balance is also a vital aspect.
O e i di atio of this ould see to e I dia s u e t app oa h to a ds diffe e t multilateral organisations and plurilateral groupings. Many are better known by
their acronyms such as NAM, SAARC, BRICS, BIMSTEC, etc.
I dia s stakes i “AA‘C a e, if a thi g, highe . It is the ost i po ta t ou t i South Asia, and India was the progenitor of the idea of a primarily economic
grouping of countries of South Asia. Admittedly, SAARC has ee o life-suppo t for much of the period, but had begun to display a new vigour and dynamism of
late. India had also shown a willingness to adopt an asymmetrical and non-
reciprocal approach towards other SAARC members which had gone down well
with these countries.
On the sidelines of the March-It is Chi a that ill de a d I dia s holehea ted atte tio . Chi ese P eside t Xi Ji pi g s e e t efe e e to a e Lo g Ma h is
ot ithout sig ifi a e. Chi a s ot so pea eful ise , alo gside its growing
economic and military muscle, its growing strategic congruence with Russia, and a
further tightening of its links with Pakistan pose a pre-eminent challenge for India
in the competition of influence in the region and beyond. It may have other graver
implications as well. The One Belt, One Road initiative and the new Maritime Silk
Route/Road also have the potential to bottle up India and Indian initiatives in Asia.
As India aspires to become a leading power, these are real matters for
contemplation and action. It would be a mistake if India were to fritter away its
energies by viewing regional and world developments through a very narrow
prism, viz., terrorism. There are far bigger and larger issues at stake that demand
attention. Most important would e highlighti g I dia s apa ilities to a ele ate economic growth during a period which marks the demise of globalisation. India
ould also i g to the atte tio of the est of the o ld its t e e dous hu a assets that a po e the ou t as the o ld transits to an incredible future,
viz., the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:
1. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
Indian Judiciary
Tuberculosis
Avian Influenza/Bird flu
New Education policy
Ease of doing business index
2. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS
IN NEWS
Links to Refer
Global Gender Report
Ease of doing business
index
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Global_Gender_Gap_Report
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ease_of_doing_business_index
3. Tags
NTCA
WEF
World Bank
Practice Questions
Date: 26
th October, 2016
Category: International reports and indices
Topic: Global gender gap report Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Difficult
Type: Conceptual
1. Which organization releases the Global gender gap report?
a) World Bank
b) World trade organization
c) World Economic Forum
d) International Monetary Fund
Ans (c)
Date: 26
th October, 2016
Category: International issues
Topic: International initiatives
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
2. The One Belt, One Road initiative and the new Maritime Silk Route/Road is the initiative
of - a) China
b) Bangladesh
c) Russia
d) India
Ans (a)
Date: 26th October, 2016
Category: Indian Polity
Topic: Education
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
3. Which of the following parts of the Indian Constitution mention about Education?
(i) Fundamental Rights (ii) Fundamental Duties
(iii) Directive principles of state policy
a) (i) and (ii) only
b) (ii) and (iii) only
c) (i) and (iii) only
d) All 3 are correct
Ans (c)
Date: 26th October, 2016
Category: National organizations
Topic: NTCA
Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: factual
4. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) works under
(a) Union Ministry of Environment & Forests
(b) Union Ministry of Science & Technology
(c) Union Ministry of Home affairs
(d) None of these
Ans (a)
Date: 26th October, 2016
Category: International reports and indices
Difficulty level: Medium
Type: Factual
5. Which organization releases the Ease of doing business report?
a) World Bank
b) World trade organization
c) World Economic Forum
d) International Monetary Fund
Ans (a)
Current News Analysis
27-10-2016
A. GS1 Related
B. GS2 Related
1. Implementation of Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY)
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/lpg-distributors-raise-concerns-
over-govt-haste-in-pmuy-implementation/article9272359.ece
Category: Centre plans and programs
Topic: Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana
Key Points:
LPG distributors have raised serious concerns regarding the government’s haste in implementing the targets set under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana – PMUY.
The scheme aims at providing poor households with LPG connections. According to
the distributors, rushed implementation could compromise the safety of the
recipients. The oil marketing companies have sent letters to the LPG distributors
exhorting them to meet the PMUY targets without fail or face the consequences,
pressure that the distributors say only adds to the safety hazard.
The Federation of LPG Distributors of India - FLDI said that the implementation of
PMUY is being done in an unsafe manner, with poor households receiving LPG
cylinders without knowing or implementing the safety procedures associated with
them.
The onus of providing the connections to the right households is on the distributors,
who are provided with a list of eligible households from the Socio-Economic and
Caste Census 2011 - SECC.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas issued a statement highlighting the steps
it had been taking to ensure the safety of the LPG cylinder recipients, saying that it
has been providing safety handouts, safety briefings at the time of installation and has
been organising safety melas and clinics to increase awareness.
2. Gender Gap Index - 2016
http://www.thehindu.com/news/international/attaining-economic-equality-
between-genders-will-take-another-170-years/article9272421.ece
Category: International reports and indices
Topic: WEF’s Gender Gap Index
Key Points:
According to the WEF’s Gender Gap index - 2016, Efforts to close gender gaps in
pay and workforce participation slowed so dramatically in the past year that men and
women may not reach economic equality for another 170 years. Statistics just a year
ago predicted the economic gap between genders could close in 118 years, but
progress has decelerated, stalled or reversed in nations around the world.
Iceland and Finland ranked highest among 144 nations measured on progress in
equality in education, health and survival, economic opportunity and political
empowerment. Next were Norway and Sweden, followed by Rwanda, which has
improved economic participation and income equality and has the highest share of
women parliamentarians in the world.
At the bottom - Yemen, then Syria, Saudi Arabia and Iran
The report further said - in the political sphere, women’s engagement in public life has a positive impact on inequality across society at large. In addition, there is a
range of evidence to suggest that women’s political leadership and wider economic
participation are correlated.
Globally, the political gender gap is slowly but steadily improving. On the other
hand, the economic gap this past year reverted back to where it was in 2008. It
stands at 59 per cent, meaning women’s economic participation and opportunity is a
little more than half of what men have. At the current rate, and given that the gap
widened last year, women and men will not be equal economically for another 170
years.
Around the world, 54 per cent of working-age women on average participate in the
formal economy, compared with 81 per cent of men. Women’s average annual earnings are roughly half those of men, estimated at $10,778, versus $19,873. The
gap between men and women in terms of education - literacy and school enrolment
is so small that they could be at equal levels within the next 10 years. But closing the
gap in political empowerment, at current rates, could take 82 years
3. India revises DTAA with South Korea
http://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/india-revises-dtaa-
with-s-korea-capital-gains-to-be-taxed-at-source-116102601364_1.html
Category: India – South Korea bilateral
Topic: DTAA
Key Points:
After Mauritius and Cyprus, India has revised double taxation avoidance agreement
(DTAA) with South Korea, giving India the right to tax capital gains made from
investment here subject to a threshold. Under the new treaty with South Korea, if the
capital gains in India pertain to selling of shares up to five per cent of the paid-up
capital, then it will be taxed in South Korea. If these are more than this level, the tax
would be in India.
The move could set a standard for proposed revision of the India-Netherlands DTAA
as well. Currently, the talks of India-Netherlands DTAA at 10 per cent threshold for
capital gains to be taxed in India are on.
Like Mauritius and Cyprus, capital gains provisions would also come into effect
from April 1, 2017. While DTAA with Mauritius talks of only 50 per cent of capital
gains tax of two years from April 1, 2017, and full tax afterwards, there is no such
mention in India-South Korea DTAA. Like every new DTAA, the one with South
Korea also inserted the limitation of benefits clause to ensure the benefits of the
agreement are availed only by the genuine residents of both the countries.
The revised DTAA also enables bilateral advance pricing agreements (APAs)
between India and South Korea in transfer pricing. In bilateral APAs, the
governments of both sides are involved along with companies concerned, while in
unilateral agreement, it is only India and the company concerned. It would also
enable both the countries to apply the mutual agreement procedure (MAP) in
transfer pricing disputes. MAP is a mechanism laid down in tax treaties to ensure
that taxation is in accordance with the tax treaty.
Further, the revised DTAA contains express provisions to facilitate exchange of
information held by banks. Information exchanged under the revised DTAA can now
be used for other law enforcement purposes with the authorisation of information
supplying country.
4. India, New Zealand bilateral update
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/nsg-new-zealand-to-
play-constructive-role/article9272943.ece
Category: Bilateral
Topic: India - New Zealand
Key Points:
India and New Zealand reached an understanding on further cooperation on cyber-
security, counter-terrorism, customs, education and food security. PM of New
Zealand John Key repeated New Zealand’s consistent support for India to become a member of the reformed UN Security Council. New Zealand showed an
understanding of India’s clean energy needs and the importance of predictability in
global rules on nuclear commerce in enabling the expansion of nuclear energy in
India indicating that India’s NSG membership application will hinge on its need to
keep climate change commitments.
The New Zealand PM’s visit comes in the run-up of a crucial NSG consultative
Group meeting to be held in Vienna specifically to consider whether countries that
haven’t signed Nuclear Non-proliferation treaty - NPT can be considered for
membership. Mr. Key’s statement indicated that New Zealand is yet to change its
hard-line position on only admitting signatories to the Non-Proliferation Treaty
into the NSG, a group which works by consensus.
India’s membership bid failed to make headway in June, 2016 in Seoul, but the new
South Korean Chairperson of the Group had mandated outgoing Argentine
Chairperson Rafael Grossi to speak to all NSG members to discuss the way forward
so that India’s case could be taken up later this year.
C.GS3 Related
1. India will be home to 10500 start-ups by 2020
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/india-will-be-home-to-10500-
startups-by-2020-report/article9272293.ece
Category: Economy
Topic: Start-ups
Key Points:
According to a Nasscom - Zinnov start-up report, India continues to harbour the
third largest start-up base, marginally behind the U.K. The report, titled Indian
Start-up Ecosystem Maturing - 2016, says that the ecosystem is poised to grow by an
impressive 2.2 times to reach more than 10,500 start-ups by 2020 despite the
popular belief that the Indian start-up ecosystem is slowing down.
According to the report there is an increased interest from student entrepreneurs in
2015-16. A remarkable growth of 25 per cent has been witnessed in 2016 with over
350 ventures founded by young students. The median age of start-up founders has
reduced marginally from 32 years in 2015 to 31 years in 2016. Technology start-ups
are creating a new identity for India and its technological process.
The report demonstrates continued growth in the number of start-ups in 2016, with
Bengaluru, the National Capital Region, and Mumbai continuing to lead as major
start-up hubs for the nation. In terms of vertical growth, investors are looking at the
domains like health-tech, fin-tech, and edu-tech. With a total funding of
approximately $4 billion, close to 650 young firms were funded signifying an aware
and healthy growth of the ecosystem.
The number of technology firms in India is expected to grow by 10-12 percent to
over 4,750 start-ups by the end of 2016. Interestingly over 1400 new ventures have
emerged in 2016 denoting that the ecosystem is becoming prudent with both investors
and start-up founders focusing on profitability and optimising the overall spend.
2. Cyclone Kyant
http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/agri-business/cyclone-kyant-
seen-strengthening-a-bit-but-away-from-coast/article9270060.ece
Category: Disasters
Topic: Cyclone
Key Points:
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Cyclone Kyant is
expected to make landfall over south coastal Andhra Pradesh. IMD further said due
to the influence of the cyclone, the North-East monsoon is expected to settle over
the Southern part of the Peninsula by October 30, after being delayed by at least 10
days.
The IMD said the conditions would become favourable for the exit of the South-
west monsoon remnant and the simultaneous onset of the North-East monsoon during
this phase.
Kyant is seen hitting the home stretch towards the south Andhra Pradesh coast just
to the north of Chennai, as depicted by wind field maps plotted by the India Met
Department. It sees the storm washing over south Andhra Pradesh with no more than
a whimper, but, importantly, setting up the platform for the North-East monsoon.
Sea conditions will be ‘rough’ to ‘very rough’ along and off South Odisha and along
and off the Andhra Pradesh coast.
3. India to have 1 billion mobile subscribers by 2020
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/india-to-have-1-bn-mobile-
subscribers-by-2020/article9272329.ece
Category: Economy
Topic: GSMA
Key Points:
According to the report ‘The Mobile Economy: India 2016’, released by Global
System for Mobile communications Association- GSMA, India is expected to have 1
billion unique mobile subscribers by 2020 due to falling prices of devices and
network coverage improvement.
According to the report, at the end of June 2016, 616 million unique users had
subscribed to mobile services in India, making it the second-largest mobile market
globally. Almost half the country’s population now subscribe to a mobile service. Improving affordability, falling device prices and better network coverage aided by
operator investment will help deliver over 330 million new unique subscribers by
2020, taking the penetration rate to 68 per cent - up from 47 per cent in 2015.
The GSMA counts as unique mobile subscriber an individual, who may be using
multiple mobile connections (SIMs)
4. Fi . i said ACs, chappals ca ’t attract the sa e GST rate
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/acs-chappals-cant-attract-the-
same-gst-rate-jaitley/article9272350.ece
Category: Economy
Topic: GST
Key Points:
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley explained the rationale behind the GST Council’s suggestion of four GST rates, writing that different items used by different segments
of society have to be taxed differently. Otherwise the GST would be regressive - air
conditioners and hawai chappals cannot be taxed at the same rate.
Total tax eventually collected has to be revenue neutral. The Government should not
lose money necessary for expenditure nor make a windfall gain.
He further said the decision to retain some cess, such as the clean energy cess and
the tobacco cess was to make good Centre’s commitment to compensate states for any loss of revenue that may arise from the implementation of GST for the first five
years.
“The tax on some products in a narrow slab regime will substantially increase,” the Finance Minister added. “This would be highly inflationary. A commodity being taxed by the Centre and the State at 11 per cent at present will be taxed at 12 per cent.
If its taxation is suddenly raised on standard rate of 18 per cent, it would disrupt the
market and would be highly inflationary.”
Debt issue - Mr Jaitley said that increasing direct taxes or the Centre’s debt in order to pay states the compensation for the first five years of GST implementation was not feasible.
D. GS4 Related
E. Important Editorials
The Hindu
1. Running to stand still
http://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/running-to-stand-
still/article9272269.ece
As proof of its commitment to economic renewal, the Narendra Modi government
had set itself the target of breaking into the top 50 in the World Bank’s annual ranking of countries on ease of starting and operating a for-profit enterprise. That
the Bank in its Doing Business 2017 report now ranks India 130 among 190
countries, just one notch higher than last year, is therefore likely to be taken as a
signal of the snail’s pace of economic reform. This too when competition is hotting up.
Seventy-five per cent of the 283 reforms reported this year were carried out by the
developing economies, and the world’s ten best improvers include Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Serbia, Kenya and Indonesia. The report notes that the BJP-led
government was elected in 2014 on a platform of increasing job creation, mostly
through encouraging investment in the manufacturing sector. While it has left out
labour regulations from this year’s index, the Bank acknowledges India’s gains in simplifying tax payments, trade procedures and contract enforcement (though it still
ranks a low 172 on this front).
Most heartening is that India is now the 26th easiest place to get an electricity
connection, up 25 places from last year. The average time taken to get a connection
has come down from 138 days in 2013-14 to 45 days in 2015-16. Besides,
transformative changes such as the proposed Goods and Services Tax and insolvency
and bankruptcy norms, if implemented by June next year, could propel India higher in
the Bank’s next report.
For its part, the government has argued that the Bank only focusses on two big cities
while reforms are happening across States. But that, in fact, frames a larger problem
because with an eye on the index officials had focussed on simpler procedures in
Mumbai and Delhi.
By May this year, an e-biz platform allowed investors to apply for 20 Central
government services online, along with two services in Delhi and 14 each in Odisha
and Andhra Pradesh. In Maharashtra, a $5-billion investment announced by
Foxconn remains on paper. Other BJP-run States had, in fact, not signed up.
Certainly, investment (and job creation) is not driven by rankings alone. In his first
year in office, the Prime Minister had assured investors that the government had no
business being in business, retrospective taxes would be relegated to history and land
acquisition norms simplified.
There is little movement on the first, and the third has become history. Old
retrospective tax demands linger, while new instances (pertaining to bonus payments
and mining royalties) are being battled in the courts. Losing its credibility with global
capital should be a far bigger worry for the government than a World Bank
endorsement.
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:
1. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
LPG reforms
DTAA - Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement
NSG
Gender Gap report
Ease of doing business index
Disasters - Cyclones
Goods & Services tax
2. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS
IN NEWS
Links to Refer
Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
yojana - PMUY
Global system of mobile
operators association -
GSMA
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=137647
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GSM_Association
3. Tags
IMD
GSMA
PMUY
Practice Questions
Date: 27
th October, 2016
Category: International reports & indices
Topic: WEF – Gender Gap index Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Easy Type: Factual
1. Which country topped the WEF’s Gender Gap index – 2016 for having least Gender
Inequality in various spheres?
a) Finland b) Iceland
c) New Zealand d) Australia
Ans (b)
Date: 27
th October, 2016
Category: Economy
Topic: DTAA
Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Medium Type: Factual
2. With which of the following countries, India recently revised the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements – DTAA to levy Capital Gains tax?
a) Mauritius, Singapore, Cyprus, Netherlands
b) Mauritius, South Korea, Cyprus, Singapore
c) Mauritius, South Korea, Cyprus
d) Mauritius, Singapore, Cyprus, Germany
Ans (c)
Date: 27th October, 2016
Category: National programs Topic: PMUY
Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Medium Type: Factual
3. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala
Yojana?
(i) It aims to provide Free LPG connections to Women from BPL Households
(ii) This is the first time the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas is implementing a
welfare scheme.
a) (i) only
b) (ii) only
c) Both (i) & (ii)
d) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Ans (c)
Date: 27th October, 2016
Category: Disasters
Topic: Cyclone Source: The Hindu
Difficulty level: Medium Type: factual
4. Which of the following cyclone was in news recently over Bay of Bengal, IMD said it is
likely to have a mild impact on Gopalpur, Vishakhapatnam and Machilipatnam?
(a) Cyclone Kyant
(b) Cyclone Hud Hud
(c) Cyclone Nilofar
(d) Cyclone Phailin
Ans (a)
Date: 27th October, 2016
Category: National reports – Start-ups
Difficulty level: Medium Type: Factual
5. According to a Nasscom - Zinnov start-up report, which city is the major start-up hub for
the nation?
a) Delhi b) Mumbai
c) Ahmadabad d) Bangalore
Ans (d)
Current News Analysis
28-10-2016
A. GS1 Related
B. GS2 Related
1. Indo-Bhutan bilateral update
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Industry/trade-transit-pact-with-bhutan-
gets-approval/article9277384.ece
Category: Indo - Bhutan bilateral
Topic: Trade pact
Key Points:
The Union cabinet has approved a new agreement on trade, commerce and transit
between India and Bhutan. It provides for a free trade regime between two countries,
and duty free transit of Bhutanese merchandise for trade with third countries.
According to the pact, bilateral trade between will continue to be transacted in
Indian Rupees and Bhutanese Ngultrums.
The agreement was renewed on 29th July 2006 for ten years. The validity of this
agreement was extended, with effect from 29th July 2016, for one year or till the new
agreement comes into force, through exchange of diplomatic notes.
Bhutan was among the SAARC nations that had shared the concerns of India in the
wake of the Uri attack, and expressed solidarity with New Delhi saying it was not
conducive to hold the SAARC Summit in Islamabad under the situation that prevailed
then. Bhutan is also part of the BIMSTEC grouping that had recently held talks with
BRICS nations including India to boost ties.
Note - Bilateral trade between India & Bhutan had grown by 55 per cent year-on-
year in FY’16 to $750 million, with India’s exports increasing 40.4 per cent to $469 million, while imports from Bhutan rose 87 per cent to $281 million.
2. WHO seeks special U.N. session on TB
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-seeks-special-un-session-on-
tb/article9277553.ece
Category: International Organizations
Topic: WHO
Key Points:
The World Health Organisation (WHO) frustrated with a lack of political will shown
by nations with a high burden of tuberculosis, is calling for the 1st United Nations
General Assembly on the deadly but curable infection.
The development follows the release of the Global TB report, in which the WHO had
to significantly revise the global burden of TB after a 34 per cent increase in cases
reported from India. The country shoulders the highest burden of 2.2 million cases a
year. Nearly 2, 40,000 people die of TB each year, and 61,000 develop an untreatable
form of the disease, called Multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB).
The UNGA meeting on TB is a strategy copied from the HIV movement, when
member states adopted a political declaration to fast-track progress in combating the
HIV/AIDS epidemic. Countries adopted a set of time-bound targets in June this year
towards combating the worldwide scourge of HIV/AIDS over 5 years and ending the
epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.
So far, on the WHO’s urging, Russia and South Africa - both high-burden countries
have initiated a dialogue. The idea is to move beyond Health Ministers and involve
Ministers of Justice (as TB is a common problem among prisoners) and Finance
Ministers.
Meanwhile, the global health community gathered at the 47th World Lung
Conference in Liverpool is keenly following developments in India, where Prime
Minister Narendra Modi held a high-level meeting on TB.
3. International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) - Oman meet
http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/despite-freeze-indian-pak-officials-
attend-oman-meet/article9277528.ece
Category: International Summits
Topic: IISS
Key Points:
At a time when all official meetings between India and Pakistan are on hold, senior
MEA and R&AW officials met their counterparts in the Pakistan Ministry of
Foreign Affairs (MOFA) and ISI at a conference in Oman, organised by the U.S.
Military National Defence University and British think-tank International Institute
for Strategic Studies - IISS.
The conference, which is held annually in Oman, brings together officials from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan to discuss regional security.
After India pulled out of the SAARC summit, Pakistan has cancelled its attendance
at an Asian Disaster Risk Reduction conference to be held in Delhi - November 2-5. The Muscat conference that took place on October 21-23 was the 10th round of the International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS) and Near East South Asia (NESA) Center for Strategic Studies at the US National Defense University’s dialogue on South Asian Security.
C.GS3 Related
1. Centre for in-principle share sale in some PSU's
http://www.thehindu.com/business/Economy/centre-for-inprinciple-share-sale-in-
some-psus/article9277377.ece
Category: Economy
Topic: Disinvestment
Key Points:
The Centre made a cautious move towards large scale disinvestment of public sector
enterprises with the Cabinet agreeing in-principle to a case-by-case examination of
just some of the 20-odd firms and units recommended for strategic sale by its think-
tank Niti Aayog.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the strategic sale of such public sector units with
the transfer of management control to a private entity, will be taken up subsequently
by the cabinet on a case-by-case basis after consultations with their respective
administrative ministries, but there’s no timeline set for the process.
The recommendations of the Niti Aayog with regard to both disinvestment and
strategic sales came up for consideration before the cabinet. In principle, the cabinet
approved the recommendations with regard to some of the units about which the
recommendations were made. The Centre had set a target to raise Rs.20, 500 crore in
2017-18 through strategic sales of public sector firm and another Rs.36, 000 crore is
to be raised from the sale of minority stakes in PSUs.
The Department of Investment and Public Assets Management and the
administrative ministries in charge of the specific PSUs would now undertake a
detailed examination óf each firm and finalise the methodology to be followed and
the base price for a sale, before bringing individual proposals to the Cabinet.
D. GS4 Related
E. Important Editorials
The Hindu
1.Situating law in the land
http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-opinion/situating-law-in-the-
land/article9278538.ece
With the submission of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government’s affidavit in Supreme Court a few days ago, the debate on Muslim personal law has
intensified, prompting even the Prime Minister to join the fray in support of the
constitutional rights of Muslim women.
Although the government’s affidavit did not specifically ask the court to ban or
abolish instant talaq or polygamy, and concedes that only some women are directly
and actually affected by these practices, it nevertheless tells the highest court that the
issue of validity of triple talaq, nikah halala and polygamy needs to be considered in
the light of principles of gender justice and the overriding principle of non-
discrimination, dignity and equality.
The government affidavit seems to have ignored the fact that in the Shamim Ara case
(2002) the Supreme Court, relying on several earlier rulings, had invalidated instant
triple talaq and, by that decision, rendered even halala redundant and equally
illegal. Halala is the un-Islamic temporary marriage a victim of instant talaq is
forced to undergo with another man to remarry her first husband. As is obvious, the
delegitimisation of instant talaq makes halala unnecessary. An overview of the
Shamim Ara judgment and some of the rulings cited in it can be found in Justice K.
Kannan’s article “Frames of reference”, published in this newspaper on October 21.
Polygyny in the Islamic context - Polygamy includes both polygyny and polyandry.
The Koran categorically prohibits polyandry and therefore, it is polygyny that the
Supreme Court will be ruling on in the present case.
Polygyny, which finds mention just once (4:3) in the Koran, is one of the most
misunderstood concepts of Islamic law. It has been abused over the centuries by
Muslim men without appreciating the spirit behind its exceptional sanction, which is
clearly contextualised in the historical conditions of the time when a large number of
women were widowed and children orphaned as Muslims suffered heavy casualties in
defending the nascent Islamic community in Medina. Even a simple reading of verses
4:2, 3 and 127 will show that it was under such circumstances that the Koran allowed
conditional polygyny, mainly to protect orphans and their mothers from an
exploitative society.
Muslim polygyny v. Hindu bigamy - From another point of view too, a total ban on
polygyny may not be advisable. Latest census data and impact studies conducted by
researchers such as Flavia Agnes show that bigamy continues to prevail among the
Hindus despite the Hindu Marriage Act, 1955 outlawing it, and Section 494 of the
Indian Penal Code (IPC) declaring it a punishable offence.
Factoring in social reality - The consolation is that our courts are fully aware of the flaws in the Hindu law and have tried to overcome them through deontological interpretations. In the Rameshchandra Rampratapji Daga v. Rameshwari
Rameshchandra Daga case of 2004, the Supreme Court, while justifying the granting of maintenance to a second wife and her daughter, observed: “…a bigamous marriage may be declared illegal being in contravention of the provisions of the [Hindu Marriage] Act but it cannot be said to be immoral so as to deny even the right of alimony or maintenance to a spouse financially weak and economically dependent.” This view was fully endorsed in 2013 by another Supreme Court Bench in the matter of Badshah v. Sou. Urmila Badshah Godse & Anr where it was emphasised that “just as change in social reality is the law of life, responsiveness to change in social reality is the life of the law.”
Rights of the ‘second wife’ - If, in the light of the foregoing arguments, a blanket ban on Muslim polygyny is being opposed, it should not be construed as an expression of support for the practice. The point that is sought to be made here is this: if polygyny
is abruptly declared illegal for Muslims, without first identifying and addressing the causes of failure of Hindu law in preventing bigamy, it would end up creating the same confusions in the Muslim law, especially with regard to the rights of the second wife under Articles 14, 15 and 21. Therefore, pending examination of the Hindu bigamy law through the prism of these facts, the most judicious option, insofar as Muslim polygyny is concerned, would be to fetter it with Koranic conditions as discussed above.
This should not be a difficult decision given the fact that eight out of the 10
countries cited approvingly in the government’s affidavit have regulated polygyny by making it conditional. It would therefore be improper to hold up these countries as examples in the case of instant triple talaq which all 10 have invalidated while ignoring 80 per cent of them on polygyny. A. Faizur Rahman is an independent researcher and secretary-general of the Chennai-based Islamic Forum
F. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:
1. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
WHO
Tuberculosis
International Institute of Strategic Studies
Disinvestment
Goods & Services tax
NITI Aayog
2. BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS IN NEWS
BILLS/ACTS/SCHEMES/ORGS
IN NEWS
Links to Refer
NITI Aayog
DIPAM - Disinvestment
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NITI_Aayog
http://pib.nic.in/newsite/PrintRelease.aspx?relid=137044
http://pib.nic.in/feature/feyr2001/fmar2001/f150320012.html
3. Tags
GST
IISS
Practice Questions
Date: 28
th October, 2016
Category: International Organizations
Topic: ISIS Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Easy Type: Factual
1. The Shangri-La Dialogue - an annual meeting of Asia-Pacific region Defense Ministers
in Singapore, and the Manama Dialogue - an annual meeting of Persian Gulf region
security ministers and officials in Bahrain are organized by
a) International Institute of Strategic Studies
b) NATO
c) UN General Assembly
d) Gulf Cooperation Council
Ans (a)
Date: 28
th October, 2016
Category: S&T
Topic: Diseases
Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Medium Type: Factual
2. Multi Drug Resistant (MDR) Tuberculosis is caused by a) Virus
b) Bacteria
c) Fungus
d) Worms
Ans (b)
Date: 28th October, 2016
Category: National Organizations Topic: DIPAM
Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Medium Type: Conceptual
3. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Department of Investment
and Public Asset Management - DIPAM?
(i) It lays down the procedure and mechanism for strategic disinvestment of Central
Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs)
(ii) It works under the Union Ministry of Finance
a) (i) only
b) (ii) only
c) Both (i) & (ii)
d) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Ans (c)
Date: 28th October, 2016
Category: International summits
Topic: SAARC Source: The Hindu Difficulty level: Medium Type: factual
4. The 2016 SAARC Summit which was cancelled in the wake of Uri terror attacks, was
supposed to be held at?
(a) Dhaka, Bangladesh
(b) Kathmandu, Nepal
(c) Bamiyan, Afghanistan
(d) Islamabad, Pakistan
Ans (d)
Date: 28th October, 2016
Category: Indian Polity
Difficulty level: Medium Type: Factual
5. Which of the following statements are correct regarding the Uniform Civil code?
(iii) It is mentioned in Part 4 of the Indian Constitution - DPSP
(iv) It is justiceable – enforceable in a court of law
a) (i) only
b) (ii) only
c) Both (i) & (ii)
d) Neither (i) nor (ii)
Ans (a)
![CCHAPTERHAPTER INSTALLATION WIRING · GS2-20P5, GS2-21P0, GS2-22P0, GS2-41P0, GS2-42P0, GS2-43P0, GS2-51P0, GS2-52P0, GS2-53P0 Units: mm [inches] GS2 Series AC Drive User Manual 2–5](https://img.dokumen.tips/doc/110x75/5e9f219cb4bfbb48920bd3b3/cchapterhapter-installation-wiring-gs2-20p5-gs2-21p0-gs2-22p0-gs2-41p0-gs2-42p0.jpg)
