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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 16 August 2020

::NATIONAL::

Contempt powers of supreme court is inherent under the constitution claims judges

The prior consent of the Attorney General (AG) of India is not required to suomotu initiate the inherent contempt powers of the Supreme Court. A three-judge Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra held that the suomotu contempt powers of the top court is drawn from Article 129 of the Constitution, which says the Supreme Court, as a court of record, has the power to punish for contempt of itself.
The Contempt of Court Act of 1971 cannot limit this power of the court. The statute only provides the procedure in which such contempt is to be initiated. The court explained this in its 108-page judgment in a suomotu contempt case against advocate PrashantBhushan for his tweets. The lawyer was found guilty of contempt on Friday.
“As far as the suomotu petitions are concerned, there is no requirement for taking consent of anybody, including the Attorney General because the court is exercising its inherent powers to issue notice for contempt. It is equally well settled, that once the court takes cognisance, the matter is purely between the court and the contemnor,” the judgment said.
It said the only requirement is that the procedure followed is required to be just and fair and in accordance with the principles of natural justice.

Home Ministry approves proposal for expansion of NCC

The National Cadet Corps ( NCC) is all set for a major expansion to cover 173 border and coastal districts. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has approved a proposal of the National Cadet Corps for a major expansion scheme to meet the aspirations of youth in all the border and coastal districts.
The proposals of the scheme were announced by the Prime Minister NarendraModi in his Independence Day address on 15th Aug.
A total of one lakh cadets from 173 border and coastal districts will be inducted to the NCC. One-third of the Cadets would be girl Cadets. Our correspondent reports, more than 1000 schools and colleges have been identified in border and coastal districts where NCC will be introduced.
As part of the expansion plan, a total of 83 NCCunits will be upgraded (Army 53, Navy 20, Air Force 10), to impart NCC training to the cadets in the border and coastal areas.
The Army will provide training and administrative support to the NCC units located in the border areas. The Navy shall provide support to NCC units in the coastal areas. The Air Force will provide support to the NCC units located close to the Air Force stations.

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::ECONOMY::

Finance ministry holds review meeting of CPSE’s on capital expenditure

Finance Minister NirmalaSitharaman today held 3rd review meeting of Central Public Sector Enterprises, CPSEs on capital expenditure for the current financial year. Secretaries of the Ministries of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways, Housing and Urban Affairs, Defence and Department of Telecommunications along with the CMDs of 7 CPSEs were also present during the meeting.
The combined Capital expenditure target for 2020-21 for these seven CPSEs is one lakh 24 thousand 825 crore rupees. In 2019-20, against the target of one lakh 29 thousand 821 crore rupees, the achievement was over 88.37 per cent. During the first quarter of 2019-20 the achievement was around 16 per cent and achievement upto July 2020 in the current financial year is 20 per cent.
Speaking on the occasion, Mrs Sitharaman asked the concerned Secretaries to closely monitor the performance of CPSEs in order to ensure capital expenditure to the tune of 50 per cent of capital outlay by the end of second quarter of the current financial year and make appropriate plan for it.
She said that better performance of CPSEs can help the economy in a big way to recover from the impact of COVID 19. While mentioning the significant role of CPSEs in giving a push to the growth of the Indian economy, the Finance Minister encouraged the CPSEs to perform better to achieve their targets.

Railways generate more than 50000mandays of work under GKR abhiyan

Indian Railways has generated more than five lakh 50 thousand mandays of work under GareebKalyanRozgarAbhiyan in six states. The states are Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh.
Rail Minister PiyushGoyal is closely monitoring the progress made in these projects and generation of work opportunities for the migrant labourers of these states under the scheme.
Around 165 Railway infrastructure projects worth two thousand 988 crore rupees are being executed in these states . Till 14th August, a total of 11 thousand 296 workers have been engaged in this Abhiyaan.
Payment of over one thousand 336 crore rupees has been released to the contractors. Railways have appointed nodal officers in each district as well as in the States so that a close coordination is established with the State Government.
Prime Minister NarendraModi had launched the GaribKalyanRojgarAbhiyaan to empower and provide livelihood opportunities in areas and villages witnessing large number of returnee migrant workers affected by the COVID-19.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

India calls for information sharing amongst BRICS to combat drug menace

India called for real-time information sharing among BRICS nations to tackle the drug menace. The fourth meeting of the BRICS anti drug working group was held recently.
The meeting focused on misuse of darknet and other advanced technologies for drug trafficking. The Working Group comprising Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa and India held fruitful discussions.
The Indian delegation was led by RakeshAsthana, Director General, Narcotics Control Bureau. The common points emerged during the discussions include need for real time information sharing among the member states and need to curb increased drug trafficking through maritime routes.
The growing economic might of BRICS countries, their significance as one of the main driving forces of global economic development, their substantial population and abundant natural resources form the foundation of their influence on the international scene.
Among other areas of collaboration, matters pertaining to drug trafficking is an important area of cooperation among the BRICS member states.
India to help Mauritius deal with oil spill
The Government of India has dispatched over 30 tonnes of technical equipment and material to Mauritius to supplement the country’s ongoing oil spill containment and salvage operations.
In a statement, the Ministry of External Affairs said, the decision has been taken, in response to a request of the Government of Mauritius for assistance in dealing with the environmental crisis due to oil spill on its south-east coast.
A 10-member Technical Response Team, consisting of Indian Coast Guard personnel specially trained to deal with oil spill containment measures, has also been deployed to Mauritius.

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::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Centre to launch projects for conservation of Lions and Dolphins

The Prime Minister announced that the Centre will soon launch Project Lion and Project Dolphin for the biodiversity conservation of these species to replicate the successes of Project Tiger.
In his independence day speech, Mr Modi we have successfully carried forward Project Tiger and Project Elephant. The Tiger population has increased in India. In the coming days, we are starting Project Lion for the Asiatic lions.
Mr Modi said Project Dolphin will focus on both river and sea dolphins. He said, this will also give a boost to biodiversity and also create employment opportunities.
The Prime Minister also announced that India will soon have a new cyber security policy. He said his government is aware of the threats arising from cyberspace and their potential impact to India's society, economy and development.
Mr Modi said, changing nature of cyber threats and warfare has prompted India to build a roadmap to overhaul its existing cyber security policy with an eye on challenges like social media, securing critical data and the need for new laws.

::SPORTS::

MS Dhoni announces retirement from international cricket

Mahendra Singh Dhoni, a man of few words and massive sixes, announced his retirement from international cricket in his inimitable, understated style.
Through his official Instagram handle ‘mahi7781’, the former India captain, who led India to the 2011 World Cup title, put out a statement on Saturday evening: “Thanks. Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. From 19.29 hrs consider me as Retired.”
While there was talk about a swan song during the ICC Twenty20 World Cup later this year in Australia, the COVID-19 pandemic played spoilsport. Dhoni fans can now watch him turn out for Chennai Super Kings in the Indian Premier League at the United Arab Emirates from September 19.

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