Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 6 August 2018


Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 6 August 2018


::NATIONAL::

Centre develops software to bring in transparency in road developments projects

  • The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (M/o RT&H) has developed the Bidder Information Management System (BIMS) to streamline the process of pre-qualification of bidders for EPC Mode of contracts for all National Highway works with enhanced transparency and objectivity.
  • BIMS would work as a data base comprising bidder wise information covering basic details, civil works experience, cash accruals and network, annual turnover etc. so that bidders’ pre-qualification is assessed based on evaluation parameters like threshold capacity and bid capacity from already stored data and technical evaluation can be carried out in a faster manner using this information.
  • BIMS would be used by all the project implementation agencies of the Ministry, for maintenance of technical information of civil works of contractors/ concessionaires, and for online technical evaluation of civil works bids.
  • The BIMS portal will be operated in conjunction with the CPPP portal for invitation of bids for civil works for EPC mode.It is estimated that BIMS portal will significantly reduce the procurement time for projects through an objective and transparent online evaluation system thereby leading to accelerated project implementation.

NCBC to get more powers after constitutional status

  • People belonging to the Other Backward Classes will soon be able to approach a new National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) with Constitutional status to get their grievances redressed.
  • The panel that will come into being following the passage of the 123rd Constitutional Amendment Bill by the LokSabha a few days ago will be able to enforce the safeguards provided to the Socially and Educationally Backward Classes (SEBCs) and solve their grievances.
  • The present NCBC can only recommend inclusion and exclusion of castes from the OBC list and the level of income that cuts off the “creamy layer” among these castes from the benefits of reservation.
  • In the case of grievances related to non-implementation of reservations, economic grievances, violence, etc., people from the SEBC category will be able to move the Commission.

::ECONOMY::

CII report claims India-China trade war may make Indian products competitive

  • With the U.S. imposing an additional 25% duty on imports worth $34 billion from China, certain Indian products may become more competitive, the CII said.
  • An analysis by the industry chamber revealed that India should focus on the U.S. market for items in the categories of machinery, electrical equipment, vehicles and transport parts, chemicals, plastics and rubber products.
  • Top exports from India to the U.S. which are covered in the list of items for which the tariffs have been raised include pumps, parts of military aircraft, parts for electro-diagnostic apparatus, passenger vehicles of 1500-3000 cc, valve bodies and parts of taps.
  • Exports of these items stood at more than $50 million in 2017, according to CII, and can be increased with concerted efforts. Countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, Thailand and Malaysia have increased their exports of these products to the U.S. in recent years, it noted.
  • It suggested that trade talks with the U.S. be strategised taking into account India’s competitive advantage in these products.

Resolution of stressed power projects to take more time

  • An additional 180 days could be provided for resolution of 34 stressed power projects with a view to avoiding potential value erosion of operating plants, according to a government report.
  • If the recommendations of the report, which was in compliance with the Allahabad High Court order are accepted, banks would get about a year for restructuring power sector loans of about Rs. 1.74 lakh crore.
  • According to sources, the report pointed out that the commissioned power plants with capacity of about 40,000 MW need to be considered differently to avoid potential value erosion and unreasonable haircut for banks.
  • During this additional period banks should intensely monitor the assets and cash flow to save them from turning non-performing, it added.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

India requests Antigua for extradition of mehulchoksi

  • India has handed over a request to Antigua for extradition of the fugitive diamond trader MehulChoksi, who has obtained citizenship of the Caribbean nation.
  • Mr.Choksi is one of the alleged masterminds of the Rs. 13,700-crore scam in Punjab National Bank and is an uncle of co-accused diamantaireNiravModi. He is wanted in India by the CBI and Enforcement Directorate probing the fraud, the biggest banking scam in the country.
  • Reports say Antiguan authorities cleared his citizenship in November 2017 after India did not give any adverse report to stall his application.
  • The CBI had sent its request for extradition to the External Affairs Ministry. Mr.Choksi’s application for citizenship in Antigua in May 2017 was accompanied by clearance from the police.

U.K to bring in new organ donation law

  • The U.K. government on Sunday announced new plans to change the law for organ and tissue donation to address the urgent need for organs within Indian-origin community in the country.
  • The proposed new system of consent for organ and tissue donation, which will presume that people have agreed to transplants unless they have specifically opted out, is expected to come into effect in England in 2020 as part of a drive to help Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) people.
  • The announcement came after a report called on the NHS to take more proactive action to address the high death rate among Indian-origin people in Britain due to low levels of organ donation within the community.
  • According to NHS records, only 7% of donors last year were from BAME backgrounds, with Indians accounting for just 1.9%. Further, 21% of people who died on the organ donation waiting list in the U.K. last year were from a BAME background.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

India’s Chandrayaan -2 mission to get postponed

  • The launch of India’s second mission to the moon, Chandrayaan-2, may be delayed till January 2019, according to a top official.
  • The ambitious mission was supposed to be launched in April, and was later fixed for October. The postponement comes in the wake of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) facing quick setbacks.
  • Earlier this year, the ISRO had launched GSAT-6A, a military communication satellite, but lost communication with it. Following this, the ISRO also recalled the launch of GSAT-11 from Kourou, French Guiana, for additional technical checks. Last September, the PSLV- C39 mission, carrying the IRNSS-1H navigation satellite, failed after the heat shield refused to open and release the satellite.
  • Chandrayaan-2 will be ISRO’s first time attempt to land a rover, on the Moon. The rover, costing nearly Rs. 800 crore , will be made to land near the yet-unexplored south pole of the moon.

Scientists develop electronic tattoo to monitor health parameters

  • Chinese scientists have developed skin-like electronic tattoos, that can be used to monitor health parameters such as blood pressure and body temperature in real time.
  • The graphene-based electronic tattoo, developed by scientists from the Tsinghua University in China, can be easily transferred onto various surfaces such as the human skin, leaves and silk. Graphene, a super thin material with excellent flexibility and conductivity, is an ideal material for electronic skin, researchers said.
  • It could also be attached to masks and throats to measure body signals such as breathing, heartbeat and voice, according to the research published in the journal ACS Nano .

::SPORTS::

Indian U-19 cricket team loses to srilankan U-19

  • The India under-19 team suffered a batting collapse during its run chase to lose the third ODI against Sri Lanka under-19 by seven runs here on Sunday.
  • Chasing a target of 221, India was well placed at 181 for five at the end of 45 overs but could not score the required 40 from the remaining five overs and was dismissed for 213 in 49.3 overs. The last four wickets fell for six runs.
  • Sri Lanka under-19 220 in 49.3 overs (NavodParanavithana 51, NishanMadushka 42) bt India under-19 213 in 49.3 overs (Pawan Shah 77, ShashikaDulshan three for 37).

Bhullar gets his maiden european title

  • A late chip-in eagle saw India’s GaganjeetBhullar hold off a charging Anthony Quayle to claim the Fiji International by one stroke on Sunday.
  • Bhullar began the final day at Natadola Bay Championship Golf Course with a one-shot lead but found himself trailing late in the day as the Australian Quayle came home in 29 and set the target at 13 under.
  • It was Bhullar ninth Asian Tour title and 10th crown overall. He now becomes the most successful Indian player on Asian Tour, overtaking the tally of eight Tour wins by ArjunAtwal and JyotiRandhawa.

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