Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 2 August 2018


Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 2 August 2018


::NATIONAL::

Cabinet restores provisions of SC/ST act

  • Facing pressure from Dalit leaders within the ruling alliance as well as from the Opposition, the Centre has decided to introduce a Bill to restore the original provisions of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, which the Supreme Court had struck down in a March ruling.
  • The Amendment Bill seeks to insert three new clauses after Section 18 of the original Act. The first stipulates that for the purposes of the Act, preliminary enquiry shall not be required for registration of a First Information Report against any person.
  • The second stipulates that the arrest of a person accused of having committed an offence under the Act would not require any approval, while the third says that the provisions of Section 438 of the Code of Criminal Procedure which deals with anticipatory bail ,shall not apply to a case under this Act.
  • On March 20, the Supreme Court issued a slew of guidelines to protect people against arbitrary arrests under the Act, directing that public servants could be arrested only with the written permission of their appointing authority, while in the case of private employees, the Senior Superintendent of Police concerned should allow it.

Government launches the SevaBhojYojna scheme

  • The Ministry of Culture, Government of India has launched the new scheme namely SevaBhojYojna starting today, 01.08.2018, with a total outlay of Rs. 325.00 Crores for Financial Years 2018-19 and 2019-20.
  • The scheme envisages to reimburse the Central Government share of Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) and Integrated Goods and Service Tax (IGST)so as to lessen the financial burden of such as Religious / Charitable Institutions who provide Food/Prasad/Langar (Community Kitchen)/Bhandara free of cost without any discrimination to Public/Devotees.
  • Ministry of Culture will enrol the eligible Religious / Charitable Institutions for a time period ending with financial year 2019-20 and subsequently the enrolment may be renewed by the Ministry, subject to the performance evaluation of the institutions.
  • The details of registered institutions will be available on an online portal for the viewership of public, GST authorities and entity / institution itself.

::ECONOMY::

RBI forecasts markets may get affected by global currency wars

  • Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Urjit Patel has flagged the risks to macroeconomic stability from a potential ‘currency war’ in the wake of rising global trade tensions and said the central bank’s decision on Wednesday to raise interest rates was aimed at firmly anchoring inflation expectations.
  • The RBI’s comment on ‘currency war’ reflected its keenness to prevent the rupee from depreciating excessively, according to AbheekBarua, chief economist, HDFC Bank.
  • The rupee has depreciated about 8% against the dollar in 2018. On Wednesday, the rupee gained 11 paise to close at a more than one-month high of 68.43.
  • Factors including the Centre’s decision to raise the minimum support price for kharif crops and volatile oil prices are expected to shape the inflation trajectory in the coming months, RBI said.

IRDAI report seeks technologies to be incorporated for ease of business

  • An IRDAI working group on InsurTech has indicated support for the use of technology that aids in more scientific pricing of insurance policies and facilitates ease of business for both the insurer and the insured.
  • IRDAI assessed the use of technology such as artificial intelligence and machine learning as well as wearable devices, supported the use of technology that facilitated risk assessment and risk improvement. In doing so, the impact on costs for the policyholder needed to be considered, it said.
  • Product pricing and premium review, the report said, could be based on inputs from data captured through the devices. The report favoured portability of data, which was obtained by consent, if the customer moves to another insurer.
  • Insurers could be allowed to provide incentives to customers based on their health and activity data captured by the device, by way of discounts on premium or an additional benefit, the report held.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

UAE launches amnesty scheme

  • The UAE on Wednesday launched a landmark three-month visa amnesty programme that will benefit hundreds of illegal foreign workers, including Indians, who are overstaying their permits.
  • The programme allows the workers to leave the country without paying penalty and also gives them six months to find a job.
  • The government did not release specific numbers, but said thousands of people, primarily labourers from countries like India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nepal and the Philippines, will benefit from the the amnesty scheme.
  • This is the third such amnesty announced by the UAE government in just over a decade, media reports said. Overstaying residents have the option of exiting the country without facing punishment. Alternatively, they can also rectify their status by getting a new sponsored, valid visa.
  • As per Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICA), the entity responsible for entry and residence of foreigners in the UAE, visa violators before August 1, 2018 will be able to rectify their status legally during the amnesty period, which will end on October 31.

IRAN rejects U.S offer for talks

  • Iran waved away U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims that talks with the country's leaders were imminent, saying “threats, sanctions and PR stunts won’t work”.
  • With Washington pulling out of the landmark 2015 nuclear deal and set to reimpose full sanctions on Iran from August 6, Tehran has responded coolly to Mr. Trump’s offer on Monday to talk “any time” without preconditions.
  • The foreign ministry spokesman said Trump’s offer to negotiate with Tehran contradicted his actions as Washington has imposed sanctions on Iran and put pressure on other countries to avoid business with the Islamic Republic.
  • Separately, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Mr Trump's repudiation of the accord reached in 2015 was "illegal" and Iran would not easily yield to Washington's renewed campaign to strangle Iran's vital oil exports.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Centre launches logo & tagline for GI

  • Commerce and Industry Minister Suresh Prabhu on Wednesday launched a logo and tagline for Geographical Indications (GI) to increase awareness about intellectual property rights (IPRs) in the country.
  • Mr.Prabhu said the initiative would help promote awareness and importance of GI products.
  • A GI product is primarily an agricultural, natural or a manufactured product (handicraft and industrial goods) originating from a definite geographical territory.
  • Darjeeling Tea, TirupatiLaddu, Kangra Paintings, Nagpur Orange and Kashmir Pashmina are among the registered GIs in India.

Solar Charkhas to Generate Direct Employment

  • Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has launched the Mission Solar Charkha for implementation of 50 Solar Charkha Clusters across the country with a budget of Rs.550 crore for the year 2018-19 and 2019-20.
  • The scheme will generate direct employment to nearly one lakh persons. Minister of State (I/C) for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises ShriGiriraj Singh informed this in a written reply in RajyaSabha today.
  • Solar Charkha Units have been classified as village industries. The Mission was launched by the President of India, Shri Ram NathKovind, on 27th June, 2018 on the occasion of UN SME Day.
  • The Ministry is also implementing a project to establish 15 new Tool Rooms and Technology Development Centres and upgrade the existing 18 Centres in the country, at an estimated cost of Rs.2200 crore which includes World Bank Loan of USD 200 Million.

::SPORTS::

V.Narayankutty named ICC match referee

  • Former Kerala opener and BCCI match referee V. Narayanan Kutty has been nominated to the panel of international match referees by the ICC.
  • The 51-year-old represented Kerala in 42 matches in the Ranji Trophy and scored 1793 runs including three centuries. Since 2006, when the BCCI included him in the panel of match referees, Narayanan Kutty has officiated in more than 150 matches including 45 First Class matches, 34 List-A and 12 IPL games.

BCCI gives exemption to North eastern states in Ranji trophy

  • The BCCI will bear the entire cost of the cash-strapped North Eastern states’ Ranji Trophy debut, which has been mandated by the Supreme Court-appointed Lodha Committee, a couple of whom will play their home games at neutral venues due to lack of infrastructure.
  • The BCCI will be providing all the six states with their accredited NCA coaches, physios and trainers (men’s, boys age group, women, girls’ age group). Normally the BCCI units pay for their support staff but for NE states, the parent body will make an exception.
  • The representatives of the North Eastern states met the BCCI’s Cricket Operations team in Mumbai on Wednesday.

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