Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 14 September 2019

::NATIONAL::

Vice resident expresses concern over efficiency of justice system

Expressing concern over the heavy pendency of cases in various courts in the country, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu has said that there is a need for improvement of efficiency of the justice system.
Speaking after launching the book 'Rethinking Good Governance', authored by former Comptroller Auditor General (CAG), VinodRai, Mr Naidu also called for the expansion of Supreme Court and the establishment of more benches in different parts of the country.
Pointing that a number of civil and criminal cases have been pending for over 25 years, the Vice President said that there was a need for division of the Supreme Court into a Constitution Bench at Delhi and Cassation benches in four regions - Delhi, Chennai or Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai, as suggested by the Law Commission.
The Vice President has asked political parties to adopt a code of conduct for their legislators and contribute to policymaking through informed decisions.

Supreme court says govt.has failed to implement UCC

The Supreme Court said the nation has still not endeavoured to secure for its citizens a Uniform Civil Code. The government has till date taken no action, a Bench of Justices Deepak Gupta and Aniruddha Bose observed in a judgment.
The founders of the constitution had penned their hope that a uniform set of rules would replace the distinct personal laws of marriage, divorce, etc. based on customs of each religion.
The court said though the “Hindu laws were codified in the year 1956, there has been no attempt to frame a Uniform Civil Code applicable to all citizens of the country”.
The judgment said, “Despite exhortations of this Court in the case of Shah Bano in 1985, the government has done nothing to bring the Uniform Civil Code...”
The Supreme Court hailed the State of Goa as a “shining example” where “uniform civil code applicable to all, regardless of religion except while protecting certain limited rights”.
In 2018, a Law Commission of India consultation paper had however said the Uniform Civil Code is “neither necessary nor desirable at this stage” in the country. The Commission said secularism cannot contradict the plurality prevalent in the country.

::ECONOMY::

IMF claims Indian growth rate weaker than expected

India’s economic growth is “much weaker” than expected, according to the IMF, which attributed it to the corporate and environmental regulatory uncertainty and lingering weaknesses in some non-bank financial companies.
India’s GDP growth rate slipped to 5% in the first quarter of 2019-20, the lowest in over six years, according to latest official data.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) in July projected a slower growth rate for India in 2019 and 2020, a downward revision of 0.3%t for both the years, saying its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) will now grow respectively at the rate of 7% and 7.2%, reflecting a weaker-than expected outlook for domestic demand.
However, India will still be the fastest growing major economy of the world and much ahead of China, the Washington-based global financial institution had said.
Responding to a question on the recent GDP figures of India, Mr. Rice said the IMF will monitor the economic situation in the country.
Sharp deceleration in manufacturing output and subdued farm sector activity pulled down India’s GDP growth to over six-year low of 5% in the April-June quarter of 2019-20, according to official data released last month.
The previous low in GDP growth was recorded at 4.3% in January-March quarter of 2012-13. India’s economic growth stood at 8% in the same quarter of 2018-19.

Government brings in minimum export price for Onion

The government has imposed a minimum onion export price of 850 US dollars per tonne to curb its exports and help bring down domestic prices.
A notification to this effect was issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade yesterday. The Minimum Export Price is the rate, below which no exports are allowed.
The Centre had last month warned of strict action against hoarding of onion. Floods in major onion producing states, including Maharashtra and Karnataka, raised fears of supply disruption.
The country exports on an average 15 lakh tonnes of onions a year. India produces around 17 to 18 million tonnes of onion per year.
State-owned MMTC has barred suppliers from importing onions from Pakistan and modified its tender for import of 2,000 tonnes of onions accordingly.
It said, the bidder should import onions from any country excluding Pakistan. MMTC has been asked to import onions to improve domestic supply and check any rise in its prices.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

India invites Swizz companies to invest in technology and skill development

President Ram NathKovind has invited Swiss companies to invest in India for mutual benefit in technology and skill development. Addressing the India-Switzerland business round table in Berne, Mr Kovind asked Swiss industry to visit India investment grid online portal to know about opportunities to invest in India.
He said Switzerland is home to high-end technology and India is producing world-class human capital. Mr Kovind said there is vast scope to combine our relative advantages in capital, technology, science and skills for mutual benefit.
He said, India ranks as a major global player in areas such as pharmaceuticals, healthcare services, information technology, solar energy, automobiles, space and biotechnology.
During his talks with Switzerland President Maurer yesterday, Mr Kovind stressed the need to enhance business links between the two countries leading to mutual growth and sustainability.

Kenya rolls out vaccine for Malaria

According to the World Health Organization, the region accounted for 92% of the cases and 93% of malaria deaths in 2017.
Health authorities in Kenya on Friday started administering doses of the world’s only licensed malaria vaccine to young children in rural areas facing high transmission rates.
Kenya became the third African country to introduce the vaccine, after Malawi and Ghana. The aim is to reach about 360,000 children per year across the three countries.
The Health Ministry described the milestone on Twitter as “a historic day” for the East African country as the Health Minister launched vaccinations in remote Homa Bay county.
Experts have begun testing out other new tools to fight malaria, including the development of genetically modified mosquitoes with an infertility gene.
Resistance is growing to medicines that treat the disease, while mosquitoes are becoming more resistant to insecticides. In addition, funding for malaria efforts has plateaued in recent years.
In neighbouring Uganda, health officials last month reported a surge in malaria cases as cases rise even among adolescents. They cited global warming and longer wet seasons for the increase.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

India adopts Delhi declaration at UNCCD

The 14th Conference of Parties (COP-14) to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) came to a close today with the adoption of the Delhi Declaration.
During the extensive deliberations that lasted for 12 days, COP-14 witnessed widespread participation from over 9,000 participants from across the globe at Greater Noida.
In Delhi Declaration, the parties expressed support for new initiatives aiming to improve human health and well-being, the health of ecosystems and to advance peace and security.
Briefing media on the outcomes of COP-14, Environment Minister PrakashJavadekar reiterated India’s commitment to achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030.
Mr Javadekar exuded confidence that all three Rio conventions will work in synergy. The Minister also committed to providing effective leadership to the UNCCD during his two-year tenure of Presidentship.
In an unprecedented global campaign to save productive land, country parties have agreed to make the Sustainable Development Goal target of achieving land degradation neutrality by 2030 a national target for action.

::SPORTS::

Delhi stadium to be renamed after ArunJaitley

The iconic Feroz Shah Kotla stadium in New Delhi has been renamed as ArunJaitley Cricket stadium.
In a ceremony held at the JawaharLal Nehru Stadium this evening, Union Home Minister Amit Shah digitally inaugurated the renamed Cricket Stadium in presence of late finance minister and sports administrator's family.
ArunJaitley served as the President of the Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) as well as the vice-president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India.The DDCA had taken the decision to honour Jaitley who breathed his last on 24th of August after a prolonged illness.
On the occasion, DDCA also unveiled a new pavilion stand at the Feroz Shah Kotla named after skipper ViratKohli, who recently became the most successful India captain in Test cricket, surpassing M S Dhoni.