Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 7 July 2015

::National ::

Consensus eludes meet on urea subsidy

• Consensus continues to elude the Centre on the politically sensitive reform of the urea sector, where it has accumulated an unpaid subsidy bill of Rs. 40,000 crore.

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi presided over a meeting of senior Ministers and officials last Tuesday, which discussed if the subsidy could be provided directly to farmers through the direct benefit transfer scheme instead of the current policy of giving it to the producers.

• The de-canalisation or freeing up of imports and other ways in which urea prices could be de-controlled were also discussed at the meeting.

• However, the meeting ended without a decision on the way forward on urea reforms. Urea is the only fertilizer yet to be de-controlled.

• A decision on the option of direct benefit transfer could not be taken at the meeting as there was no agreement on what criteria ought to be used for identifying the eligible farmers.

• At present, the subsidy is paid to urea producers and importers, not farmers.

Historical dicision of SC on marital status

• Upholding the right of an unwed mother to apply for sole guardianship over her minor son without prior consent of the child’s absentee biological father, the Supreme Court on Monday said women are increasingly choosing to raise their children alone, and there was no need to thrust an uncaring father on a child.

• The young mother, whom the apex court described as “well-educated, gainfully employed and financially secure,” had refused to divulge the name of the biological father of her child to the courts.

• She reasoned that the man, who was married and had a family, never showed any interest in her child, whom she raised on her own. She wanted guardianship rights so that her son would inherit her financial assets.

• The judgment, authored by Justice Sen, observed that a man who has chosen to forsake his duties and responsibilities is not a necessary constituent for the well-being of the child.

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::International ::

Tibet wants to become part of ‘Belt and Road’ initiative

• China’s efforts to forge a new social contract with people of the Tibet Autonomous Region (TAR), based on generous subsidies, jobs and education, appear to be paying off, with the booming Tibetan capital showing little signs of remembering the Dalai Lama on the eve of his eightieth birthday.

• At the tastefully lit square at the base of the famed Potala Palace — the seat of the Dalai Lama — crowds of tourists armed with selfie-sticks routinely pictured themselves against a cluster of fountains, without a overhang of heavy-handed security.

Self-immolations

• Ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, there was serious rioting in the Tibetan capital at the popular Barkhor Street, adjoining the nearby Jokhang temple. Four years later, the same area became the scene of the first self-immolation in Lhasa.

• The Jokhang temple is an iconic structure, which is regularly jammed with Buddhist pilgrims.

• Amid wafts of smoke emitted by clusters of butter lamps, they weave their way through dimly lit corridors, stopping most reverentially at an enclosure where Songstan Gampo, the founder of the temple is flanked by his two brides — princess Wenchang of the Chinese Tang dynasty and Princess Bhrikuti of Nepal.

• A world heritage site, the Jokhang temple remains one of the vibrant symbols of the shared Buddhist heritage of China and South Asia.

• In a White Paper on Tibet released in April, the Chinese have slammed blamed the Dalai Lama group of forinstigating self-immolations.

• The website of “The International Campaign for Tibet (ICT)” — a pro-Dalai Lama organisation — claims that 141 Tibetans, including 116 men and 25 women have self-immolated since February 27, 2009.

Construction boom

• Tibet is now poised to become an important component of President Xi Jinping’s pan-Eurasian Belt and Road initiative.

• Its position on the Eurasian railway map has been reinforced by the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet railway, which has reached Shigaste, close to the borders of Nepal and Bhutan.

• Lhasa, the capital, is experiencing a jaw-dropping construction boom, as new housing complexes, factories and education complexes mushroom.

• Nevertheless, a Xinhua news agency report acknowledges that Tibet faces the problem of an aging society, as nearly 10 per cent of the population is above 60. “At least 2,340 senior citizens in cities and 13,000 in rural areas have neither a pension nor a family for support,” it observed.

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::India & world ::

India, Uzbekistan ink pacts to boost cooperation

• On his first visit to Central Asian countries, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday held talks with Uzbekistan President Islam Karimov on key bilateral and regional issues including the situation in Afghanistan as the two countries inked three pacts to boost cooperation between their foreign offices and in the field of culture and tourism.

• Mr. Modi, who arrived here in the Uzbek capital on the first leg of his eight-day visit to Central Asia and Russia, was received at the airport by his counterpart Shavkat Miromonovich Mirziyoyev and was accorded a ceremonial welcome.

• Mr. Modi and Mr. Karimov discussed ways to enhance strategic, economic and energy ties apart from reviewing key regional issues including the situation in Afghanistan.

India mulling proposal to join Eurasian Economic Union

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ongoing visit to Russia and five Central Asian nations could expedite the feasibility studies under way to assess whether India should sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU).

• Even as it is yet to firm up its agreements with the European Union, India is considering the option of signing a pact with the EEU, which has Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia as members, and will see the inclusion of Tajikistan later this year.

Joint study group

• According to government officials, a joint study group, headed by a Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, has been mandated to study the benefits of joining the trade bloc, but with the emphasis on enhancing trade and investment ties with the Central Asian countries, there is a possibility that an agreement could be on the cards soon.

• An invitation to join the bloc was extended by Russia, and a joint statement for establishment of a joint study group between India and the EEU was signed when Commerce and Industry Minister Nirmala Sitharaman visited Russia recently.

• A senior official on condition of anonymity said though India is keen to secure its position vis-à-vis tariff lines, it is also considering signing up with different trade blocs like the Latin American Integration Association (ALADI) which now has 13 members, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).

• India is keen to enhance its ties with the Central Asian countries, which have huge oil and gas reserves and are an important link to Afghanistan.

Free trade pacts

• While officials are weighing up the consequences of joining the EEU and the EU, there are also reports of Iran, Egypt and Israel considering the possibility of signing free trade agreements with the EEU. Vietnam too has signed a free trade agreement with the EEU.

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::Business ::

Uber planning to set up largest office outside US in Hyderabad, to invest $50 mn

• Uber, an international transportation network company, on Monday announced a $50 million investment in Hyderabad to set up a facility which will be the biggest outside its headquarters in the US.

• The state-of-the-art facility to be established over the next five years will house hundreds of new employees.AP

• "The investment will be into Uber's core business -- a new green field project which we are going to set up here.

• It will make Hyderabad the largest Uber office in the world outside the US," Sidharth Shanker, general manager of Uber Hyderabad operations, told reporters after signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Telanganagovernment.

• This will be Uber's biggest investment in India. This is also its first of its kind agreement with any state government.

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::Sports ::

Indian skipper Mithali Raj creates history

• Indian Skipper Mithali Raj became the first woman to cross the 5000 runs milestone in One-Day Internationals.

• Playing against New Zealand in Bengaluru, Mithali Raj's unbeaten knock of 81 runs took her run tally to 5029 runs comprising of 5 centuries and 37 half centuries at an average of 48.82 in 157 matches.

• Her innings helped India chase down the target of 221, set by New Zealand, only in 44.2 overs. This chase was the highest by women's team on Indian grounds and second highest over all.

• Chasing down the target of 221, the hosts got home with 34 balls to spare. Mithali shared a 124-run stand with opener Smriti Mandhana (66) for the second wicket.

• Mithali also became the second highest scorer of all time in women's cricket. Before her, English player Charlotte Edwards had completed 5000 runs in ODIs.

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Sources: Various News Papers & PIB

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