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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 17 January 2020

::NATIONAL::

Centre signs agreement to end Bru refugee crisis

Union Government today signed an agreement with stakeholders from the State of Tripura, Mizoram and members of the Bru community bringing an end to the 22-year old Bru refugee crisis.
This agreement was signed in the presence of Home Minister Amit Shah, Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, Mizoram Chief Minister Zoramthanga and others in New Delhi. As per the agreement, over 30 thousand Bru refugees will be settled in Tripura.
Addressing the media, Mr Shah said, the Centre has sanctioned 600-crore rupee package for the rehabilitation of the people from this community. He said, Bru refugees will get a 40 x 30 feet plot along with a fixed deposit of four lakh rupees, cash assistance of five thousand rupees per month for two years and free ration.
Mr. Shah said, it was a long-pending issue which has been resolved. The Minister added that the Central Government is committed towards addressing all long-pending issues related to the North East.
AIR correspondent reports that the Brutribals from Mizoram have been living as refugees in Tripura since 1997.
An agreement was signed in 2018 for repatriation of the Brutribals to Mizoram which did not materialize as majority of the community members refused to go back.

Conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association India Region held

LokSabha Speaker Om Birla today said that the belief in the democracy has increased today and so is the responsibility of the representatives.
He was speaking after inaugurating the 7th Conference of Commonwealth Parliamentary Association India Region in the legislative assembly building in Lucknow today. He said that the rights of the presiding officers need to be curtailed so that these institutions become more democratic.
He said that recently during a meeting of presiding officers in Dehradun he had raised this issue and questioned about the rights of presiding officers especially in reference to anti-defection law.
The Speaker added that whatever budget is available that should reach to the last man of society.
In his keynote address, Governor of Madhya Pradesh LaljiTondon said that Country is heading in a new direction and while criticism is always healthy but there should be no attempts to stop that.
The main theme of the conference is 'ROLE OF LEGISLATORS' and during the Plenary Sessions spread over two days, delegates will discuss the Capacity Building of Legislators for Scrutinizing Budgetary Proposals and Enhancing Focus of Legislators on Legislative Business. State Governor, Anandiben Patel will address the Valedictory Session tomorrow.

::ECONOMY::

RBI asks banks to bring in measures to enhance digi-security.

Reserve Bank has asked banks and other card-issuing companies to provide facility to customers to switch on and off their debit or credit cards, a move aimed at enhancing security for digital transactions.
The RBI said that at the time of issue or re-issue, all cards (physical and virtual) should be enabled for use only at contact based points of usage [ATMs and Point of Sale (PoS) devices within India.
The central Bank said issuers should provide cardholders a facility for enabling card not present (domestic and international) transactions, card present (international) transactions and contactless transactions.
It said, the channels should include mobile application, internet banking, automated teller machines, or interactive voice response.
The RBI further said that for existing cards, issuers may take a decision, based on their risk perception, whether to disable the card not present (domestic and international) transactions, card present (international) transactions and contactless transaction rights.

SAKHSHAM campaign on fuel conservation held in New Delhi

Secretary, Petroleum and Natural Gas MM Kutty has called for putting earnest efforts for petroleum conservation to bring down the huge import burden for energy requirements. Mr Kutty inaugurated fuel conservation mega campaign - Saksham of Petroleum Conservation Research Association, PCRA in New Delhi today.
Speaking on the occasion, the Petroleum Secretary said, India's share of primary energy demand is set to double to 11 per cent by 2040 and to address this huge demand, not only petroleum conservation but creation of sustainable development model will be a pivotal step.
Highlighting the major advantages of fuel conservation, Mr Kutty said, it will help in progressively reduction of carbon footprint and lead to fulfilling government's commitment for greener environment. He said, foreign exchange can also be saved with this move.
AIR correspondent reports that the one-month long annual event Saksham aims at creating mass awareness among public about conventional fuel conservation.
On the occasion, the Secretary also flagged-off the publicity vans of PCRA which will visit states spreading the message of fuel conservation.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

India warns Pakistan for raising Kashmir issue at UNSC

India has slammed Pakistan for again trying to raise the Kashmir issue in the UN Security Council last night where it failed yet again to find any support.
New Delhi asserted that Islamabad needs to focus on the hard tasks it has to address in order to ensure normal relations with India. China, Pakistan's 'all-weather ally', stood alone in the Pakistani corner to get the Security Council to focus on the Kashmir issue.
The attempt failed as other member countries felt Kashmir is a bilateral matter between India and Pakistan.
Earlier, China made the fresh pitch to raise the Kashmir issue under "other matters during closed consultations in the Security Council Consultations Room.
India's Permanent Representative to the UN Syed Akbaruddin said, neither alarmist scenario painted by Pakistan nor any of the baseless allegations made by them in the UN were found to be credible.

India reiterates to support efforts to maintain stability in Gulf region

External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar and Foreign Minister of Iran Dr. Mohammad JavadZarif held a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi today.
Both the leaders recalled positive outcomes of Mr Jaishshankar's recent visit to Tehran for the 19th Joint Commission Meeting especially for strengthening bilateral trade and promoting connectivity initiative through Chabahar port. Both sides have also agreed to commemorate the 70th Anniversary of the bilateral Treaty of Friendship this year.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the recent developments in the West Asia region and the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
Dr Jaishankar reiterated Indian interests in the region and support for efforts to maintain peace, security and stability in the region.
Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi yesterday,Iranian Foreign Minister JavadZarif had said that India can play a significant role in de-escalating tensions in the Gulf region.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Coast guard plans to acquire aircrafts and ships to implement its vision 2025 strategy

The Indian Coast Guard has planned to acquire 16 advanced light helicopters apart from 50 vessels to its fleet as part of its vision to have 200 ships and 100 aircraft inventory by 2025.
The first of the twin engine helicopter was expected to be inducted by March 2020, he said after the 19th edition of Indo-Japan joint exercise "Sahyog-Kaijin," about 50 nautical miles off Chennai coast.
The Indian Coast Guard, fourth largest coastal security agency in the world, has installed 36 Coastal Surveillance Radar Network on the mainland and 10 on islands that can track suspicious vessels.
Referring to the Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) signed with his Japanese counterpart, the official said Coast Guard has signed similar agreements with South Korea, Myanmar, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Oman, Vietnam and Pakistan.
Earlier in the day, the exercise was conducted off the Chennai Coast as part of strengthening the bond between the two countries.
One ship of the Japanese Coast Guard and four ships and an aircraft of the Indian Coast Guard took part in the exercise.
Led by Commanding Officer Captain Kiyoshi Harada, the 'Echigo PLH08' and the four ships and a Dornier aircraft of Indian Coast Guard participated in the drill around 50 nautical miles off Chennai.

::SPORTS::

Wrestler Sunil Kumar reaches gold bout at Roman series

In Wrestling, twenty-year-old Greco-Roman grappler Sunil Kumar sprung a huge surprise by reaching the gold medal round on his maiden senior level appearance at the first ranking series event of the season in Rome.
In the 87-kg category, Sunil began with a 2-1 win over American Patrick Anthony Martinez and followed it up with a commanding victory by fall over Venezuala's Luis Eduardo Avendano Rojas in the semifinals.
He will now fight it out with Hungary's Viktor Lorincz for the top prize. Two more Indians are in medal contention with Ashu (67kg) and Sachin Rana (60kg) reaching the bronze play-offs.