Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 12 July 2015

Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 12 July 2015

:: National ::

India stands second on trust in national government, says survey

India has secured second position amongst 40 countries in a survey of trust in national governments for 2014 conducted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Switzerland has emerged at the top with Norway coming in third.
An impressive 73 per cent of Indians polled in the survey answered ‘yes’ to the question ‘Do you have confidence in the national government?’
For the purpose of the survey, trust represents the confidence of citizens and businesses in government to do what is right and perceived as fair, according to the OECD ‘Government at a Glance 2015’ report.
However, the survey findings could also be an indicator of the popularity of Prime Minister Narendra Modi – as also reflected in his decisive electoral victory during 2014 – relative to the leaders in other countries as the report mentions that there is preliminary evidence to suggest that citizens’ trust in government reflects primarily their approval of their country’s leadership.
The report goes on to say that evidence also shows that trust in government is negatively correlated with the perceived levels of corruption in Government.
This is the only survey that collects data on the issue of trust in governments. It is a sampling survey of 1,000 citizens in each country conducted by World Poll, which has been doing it since 2005.
Between the two selected survey years of 2007 — the year before the financial and economic crisis started — and 2014, trust levels in India dropped by 9 percentage points.
The average confidence in national governments across OECD countries between the two years declined by 3.3 percentage points. It was 41.8 per cent in 2014 compared with 45.2 per cent in 2007.
The steepest declines took place in Slovenia (30 percentage points), Finland (29 percentage points) and Spain (27 percentage points).
Changes in trust levels could be affected by many factors, including the economic outlook, political changes such as elections or other major events such as disasters or major scandals including corruption cases. Moreover, expectations of citizens could grow at a faster pace than government responses.
However, India scored less than the OECD average and came 24th out of 35 countries in the comparison on protection of fundamental rights.

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:: Business ::

SBI to provide all info of distressed asset under auction

State Bank of India, which has received muted response for online auction of distressed commercial assets in the past, is compiling all legal and basic infrastructure related information of such properties to help bidders take an informed decision.
At the past two online auctions conducted in March and June, which was an industry first, the bank was successful in selling distressed residential properties, but failed to sell commercial properties in sizable numbers.
At both the online auctions the bank had sold around 280 properties which were largely residential properties.
"A major issue is that people don't want any problem, when it comes to commercial properties, from the exiting owner, which he can very easily do by going to a court. So, we have to find a solution to it and we are very close to that."

:: India & world ::

Modi pushes for TAPI project

Prime Minister Narendra Modi pitched for early implementation of the $10-billion TAPI gas pipeline project during his talks with Turkmenistan President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov as the two countries inked seven pacts to ramp up engagement in key areas such as defence.
During their comprehensive talks, both leaders resolved to step up efforts against the cross-border threats of terrorism, organised crime and illegal drug-trafficking as they reaffirmed their commitment for a stable Afghanistan.
The Prime Minister identified terrorism as a major threat facing the region, and said, “We have shared interest in a peaceful and stable Afghanistan and Central Asia. We have also common purpose in combating terrorism and extremism in our region.”
Terming the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) project a significant initiative in the relationship between the two countries, Mr. Modi said he conveyed to Mr. Berdimukhamedov that multiple options such as the possibility of a land-sea route through Iran for the pipeline should be explored.
The TAPI gas project is an over 1,800-km pipeline with a design capacity to supply 3.2 billion cubic feet of natural gas a year from Turkmenistan to Afghanistan, Pakistan and India.
The pipeline is expected to be operational by 2018 and will carry gas from the Galkynysh field of Turkmenistan that holds gas reserves of 16 trillion cubic feet.

Better connectivity

Mr. Modi emphasised the need for enhancing connectivity, calling it a key aspect of the relationship. He proposed that Turkmenistan become part of the International North-South Transport Corridor.

:: Miscellaneous ::

PSLV C-28 launches five U.K. satellites

In the heaviest commercial launch since its inception, the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) on Friday launched five satellites, weighing 1,440 kg for a United Kingdom-based company.
Lifting off from the First Launch Pad of Satish Dhawan Space Centre here at 9.58 pm, PSLV C-28 launched three identical mini satellites of the Disaster Monitoring Constellation (DMC), besides two technology demonstrators — CBNT-1 and De-OrbitSail— for Surrey Space Technology Limited into the intended orbits, some 19.21 minutes later.

Successful mission

ISRO chairman A.S. Kiran Kumar termed it an “extremely successful mission.” Since it was a “challenge” for the ISRO to accommodate 3-metre high satellites into the existing payload structure of PSLV, the national space agency had specially designed a circular launch adapter and a triangular deck for Friday’s launch. The DMC satellites would eventually be fine tuned into the 647-km Sun Synchronous Orbit.
The launch marked the 30{+t}{+h} successful mission of PSLV, also known as ISRO’s ‘workhorse.’ The national space agency had used the XL version for the ninth time.
The three mini DMC satellites have been designed for providing simultaneous spatial resolution and high temporal resolution for earth observation.
To be positioned with a separation of 120 degree between them, all the three satellites, each weighing 447 kg, are aimed at capturing any target on the Earth’s surface every day and are expected to help in surveying resources, environment and urban infrastructure, besides its primary aim of monitoring disasters.
While the 91-kg CNBT-1 is an optical earth observation technology demonstration micro satellite built by SSTL, the seven-kg De-OrbitSail from the Surrey Space Centre is an experimental nano satellite for demonstration of large thin membrane sail and drag deorbiting using this sail.
The PSLV had earlier launched 40 satellites for 19 countries.

:: Sports ::

Lodha panel verdict on July 14

The Supreme Court-appointed committee headed by former Chief Justice of India R.M. Lodha will deliver on July 14 its verdict on the quantum of punishment against Gurunath Meiyappan and Raj Kundra and their franchisees in the IPL betting and match-fixing controversy.
In an e-mail communication sent by Gopal Sankaranarayanan, Supreme Court advocate and secretary, Justice Lodha Committee, on Saturday, informed that the “verdict of the Justice Lodha Committee is to be rendered on July 14 at Silver Oak-II in the India Habitat Centre, Lodhi Road, here at 1 p.m.”
The panel set up by the Supreme Court on January 22, 2015, also comprises former SC judges Justice Ashok Bhan and Justice R.V. Raveendran.
The SC had on January 22 held that the allegation of betting against Meiyappan and Kundra stands proved and formed the committee of its retired judges to determine the punishment for Meiyappan, who was the Chennai Super Kings team Principal and Kundra, co-owner of Rajasthan Royals.