Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 05 July 2018

::NATIONAL::

SUPREME COURT GIVES SUPREMACY TO ELECTED GOVT. IN DELHI

A five-judge Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court unanimously held on Wednesday that Lieutenant-Governor of Delhi is bound by the aid and advice of the council of ministers in Delhi.

The Lieutenant-Governor has not been entrusted with any independent decision-making power. He has to either act on the ‘aid and advice’ of the Council of Ministers or he is bound to implement the decision taken by the President on a reference being made by him

In case of difference of opinion, the L-G should straightaway refer the dispute to the President for a final decision without sitting over it or stultifying the governance in the National Capital, the Bench said.

The judgment came on appeals filed by the NCT government against an August 4, 2016, verdict of the Delhi High Court, which had declared that the L-G has “complete control of all matters regarding the National Capital Territory of Delhi, and nothing will happen without the concurrence of the L-G.”

MSP for kharif crops hiked

In keeping with the promise made in this year’s Budget speech, the Union Cabinet has approved a hike in minimum support prices (MSPs) for kharif crops so that they are 50% higher than the cost of production, not including land costs.

MSPs were announced for 14 commodities, with major hikes being seen in cereals such as bajra, jowar and ragi, as well as cotton.

This includes a Rs. 200 per quintal increase in the MSP for paddy, which is likely to inflate the food subsidy bill by over Rs. 15,000 crore.

In a press briefing, Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the hike would boost farmers’ income and purchasing capacity, and have a positive impact on the wider economy, even as he played down fears of rising inflation due to higher food prices.

DNA profiling bill cleared

The Union Cabinet has cleared a Bill that allows law enforcement agencies to collect DNA samples, create “DNA profiles” and special databanks for forensic-criminal investigations, known as the “ DNA Technology (Use and Application) Regulation Bill, 2018”

The aim of that draft legislation was to set in place an institutional mechanism to collect and deploy DNA technologies to identify persons based on samples collected from crime scenes or for identifying missing persons.

The Bill creates a DNA Profiling Board that would be the final authority that would authorise the creation of State-level DNA databanks, approve the methods of collection and analysis of DNA-technologies.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

India & U.K sign MoU in law and justice cooperation

• The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi has approved signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and United Kingdom regarding cooperation between both countries in the sphere of Law & Justice and to set up a Joint Consultative Committee.
• The MoU takes care of concerns and requirements in the field of exchange of experience by legal professionals, government functionaries and their training and effective legal aid mechanism for resolution of disputes before various Courts, Tribunals, etc. and proposes establishment of Joint Consultative Committees.

Trump rolls back Obama era affirmative policies

• The Trump administration said that it was abandoning Obama administration policies that called on universities to consider race as a factor in diversifying their campuses, signalling that the administration will champion race-blind admission standards.
• In a joint letter, the Education and Justice Departments announced that they had rescinded seven Obama-era policy guidelines on affirmative action which, the departments, said,advocate policy preferences and positions beyond the requirements of the Constitution.
• This might create a hitch amongst the large percentage of Asian-Americans who pursue to study in these institutions.

::ECONOMY::

Bank of china gets RBI nod to start operations in India

Bank of China — one of the four biggest state-run Chinese lenders — has received in-principle approval from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to open branches in India.

According to the sources, the approval marks only the first step for a foreign bank seeking to start business in India. The lender would now need to identify preferred branch locations and seek regulatory approval separately for the branches.

Cabinet approves WIPO copyrighttreaty

• The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved accession to the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performers and Phonograms Treaty which extends coverage of copyright to the Internet and digital environment.
• The Centre said the approval of the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion proposal will enable creative right-holders to enjoy the fruits of their labour, through international copyright system that can be used to secure a return on the investment made in producing and distributing creative works.
• It further added these treaties would enable Indian right holders to get reciprocal protection abroad.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

• Technology giant Google has taken its public Wi-fi model from India to other countries such as Indonesia and Mexico
• Google India Director, Partnership, Next Billion Users, K. Suri said that after providing public Wi-Fi at 100 stations initially, the company now sees it as a product — the Google Station.
• Google had collaborated with Railtel in 2015 to deploy free public Wi-Fi at 400 railway stations in India.

BCCI mandate to state T20 officials

• A 10-point advisory to the BCCI members, that stipulates rules and regulations for conduct of T20 leagues, states that it is mandatory on the part of the players and officials to make full and immediate disclosure of any gifts received, in particular, of value exceeding Rs. 30,000 or additional income earned besides the contracted fee in connection with the tournament.
• It also stated that if a player has any doubt about the propriety of anyone’s conduct with regard to an offer, or potential offer of a gift, he should immediately report it to the Anti-Corruption Officials (ACO).
• The seven-page advisory hasaslo demanded that State Associations submit a report of the tournament encompassing all details to the BCCI secretary, within 15 days of the conclusion of the tournament.

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