Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 07 May 2016


Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 07 May 2016


:: National ::

Supreme Court ordered floor test to end controversy over President’s rule

  • The Supreme Court ordered a floor test in the Uttarakhand Assembly on May 10 for deposed Congress Chief Minister Harish Rawat to prove his numbers and “end the controversy over the proclamation of President’s rule in the State.”
  • It held that the nine Congress MLAs disqualified by the Speaker would not be able to vote.
  • “The learned Attorney-General said the Centre has no objection to a floor test,” the Bench underscored, while ordering that President’s rule, imposed on March 27, be lifted for the duration of the special session.
  • However, the apex court clarified that there would be no “status quo ante” for Mr. Rawat.
  • This means that Mr. Rawat would not be automatically restored as Chief Minister when President’s rule is lifted for the duration of the test. He would have to first prove he had the numbers.
  • In this the apex court has differed from the Uttarakhand High Court judgment of April 21, which had restored Mr. Rawat as Chief Minister even before the floor test initially scheduled on May 29.
  • If he fails to prove his majority, the Governor can invite the leader of the majority group to form a new government.

PM to discuss drought situation with UP, Maharastra and Karnataka CM’s

  • Prime minister will meet Chief Ministers of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka in Delhi to discuss the drought situation in their respective States.
  • A package for the Bundelkhand region was being considered.
  • Union Cabinet Secretary reviewed the drought and drinking water situation with Chief Secretaries and officials from the departments of drinking water, rural development, water resources and agriculture of 13 States.
  • He directed all Ministries to release funds under various schemes as soon as the Finance Bill was cleared by Parliament.The Lok Sabha approved the Bill on 5th May.

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:: International ::

China will take part in Rim of the Pacific exercise (RIMPAC)

  • China will take part in a regular U.S.-led naval exercise starting next month, despite tensions over Beijing’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.
  • The U.S. will host multi-national naval drills called the Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC) off Hawaii in June and July.
  • Although the Chinese navy has previously joined the exercises, held every two years, the latest drill comes as the country more aggressively asserts its maritime claims in Asia.
  • It prompted the US to say in March that it was “reassessing” Beijing’s participation.

US might block military aid to Pakistan for failing to control terrorism

  • The U.S. Congress has initiated a move to block $450 million in aid to Pakistan for failing to “demonstrate its commitment” and taking action against the Haqqani terror network.
  • The provision in the National Defence Authorisation Act (NDAA) for the fiscal year 2017, if passed by the Congress, would not allow the U.S. government to waive this condition in ‘national interest’.
  • According to NDAA 2017 of the total amount of reimbursement and support authorised for Pakistan ($450 million) would not be eligible for a national security waiver unless govt certifies that Pakistan continues to conduct military operations against the Haqqani Network in North Waziristan.
  • The Defence Secretary also needs to certify that Pakistan is demonstrating commitment to prevent the Haqqani Network from using North Waziristan as a safe haven and is actively coordinating with Afghanistan to restrict the movement of militants, including the Haqqani Network, along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.
  • There is similar certification requirement in the current fiscal 2016 ending on September 31, 2016, but the amount is $300 million.

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:: Science and Technology ::

A rare astronomical phenomenon to occur on 9th may

  • Planet Mercury will be seen as a dot on the solar disc from several parts of India, a rare astronomical phenomenon that occurs only 13 times in a century.
  • The planet will be seen as a small black dot travelling from one limb of the solar disc to the other as the Sun, Mercury and the Earth will be lined up in one plane.
  • The last transit of Mercury had occurred on November 6, 2006, when just the end of the event was visible from the extreme north-eastern parts of India at sunrise.
  • In Delhi, the event can be seen for about 2 hours 20 minutes, as it will start at 4.41 p.m. and sunset will take place at 7.01 p.m.
  • The planet appears as a dot on the disc because its angular size is very small compared to that of the Sun as seen from the Earth.
  • The phenomenon is relatively rare and occurs 13 or 14 times in a century. It occurs in May and November.
  • The interval between one November transit and the next November transit may be 7, 13 or 33 years whereas the interval between one May transit and the next May transit may be 13 or 33 years.
  • The transit of Mercury will be visible from most parts of Asia.The next transit of Mercury will take place on November 11, 2019, but the event cannot be seen from India as the same will begin after the sunset time in the country.
  • The transit of Mercury on November 13, 2032 will be visible again from India.
  • The Sun should never be viewed with the naked eye. Safe technique to observe is using filter like aluminised mylar, black polymer or welding glass of shade number14.

:: India and World ::

New problems in strained Indo-Nepal relationship

  • The political crisis in Nepal deepened as Kathmandu recalled its ambassador to India hours after cancelling President Bidhya Devi Bhandari’s visit to the Simhastha Kumbh at Ujjain.
  • Ambassador Deep Kumar Upadhyay told that the decision was taken after a Cabinet meeting during which his role in the latest political crisis came under criticism.Mr. Upadhyay had “counselled against the cancellation of the President’s visit.”
  • There is a lack of trust between the governments and I am being recalled to Kathmandu owing to a major misunderstanding between the two governments,” he said, after a telephone conversation.

:: Business and Economy ::

Taxpayers information can be revealed under Income declaration scheme

  • Govt can reveal information related to taxpayers disclosing previously concealed income under Income declaration scheme, if it is deemed to be in public interest.
  • The Income Declaration Scheme offers people with undisclosed income to declare it by paying a penal tax rate of 45 per cent on such income.
  • The final version of the Finance Bill okayed by the Lok Sabha has imported Section 138 of the Income Tax Act into the declaration scheme's ambit.
  • Bringing in Section 138 to the Scheme brings in objectivity on confidentiality of income tax information and the limitations thereof.
  • This is appropriate to ensure that people don’t misunderstand the confidentiality aspect.
  • In other words, the aim behind bringing in this section is to dispel the perception that the details disclosed under the scheme are confidential under any circumstances — they can be disclosed if it is deemed to be in public interest.
  • The discretion has been given to the Chief Commissioner who is a very senior authority and he has to see if it is in public interest to share the information.

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Sources: Various News Papers & PIB

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