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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 18 August 2020

::NATIONAL::

SC to launch detailed examination into charges alleged against judges

The Supreme Court on Monday decided to launch a detailed examination into the circumstances under which a person can make public allegations of corruption against the judiciary.
A three-judge Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra also decided to hear arguments on laying down procedure to be adopted if such statements of corruption are made in public against sitting as well as retired judges.
The Bench referred to the majority judgment delivered by Justice (as he was then) J.S. Verma for a Constitution Bench in 1992 concerning the removal of Justice V. Ramaswami, a Supreme Court judge.
The judgment had laid down the procedure to deal with allegations against a sitting judge. The judge had to be given a fair opportunity to be heard before an inquiry committee formed under the Judges Inquiry Act of 1968. The judgment had limited the inquiry process against a judge to be done within a tight and limited circle of high judicial functionaries and parliamentarians. It did not want “busybodies to meddle”.
The dominating spirit of the 1992 judgment was to “preserve the right, interest and dignity of the judge, which is commensurate with the dignity of all the institutions and functionaries involved in the process”.

Government launches e-portal on tribal health & nutrition status

Tribal Affairs Minister ArjunMunda today inaugurated the e-portal on tribal health and nutrition named 'Swasthya'. The portal provides all health and nutrition related information of the tribal population of India on a single platform.
Swasthya will also curate innovative practices, case studies, and best practices collected from different parts of India to facilitate the exchange of evidence, expertise and experiences.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Munda said, the launch of the portal is a first step towards the much bigger goal of serving the tribal population of the nation.
He informed about the initiatives of the Ministry in partnership with Facebook through the Going Online as Leaders (GOAL) Programme.

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::ECONOMY::

IT department empowers NeACas the main gateway for communication with a taxpayer

The Income Tax department has issued guidelines for the demarcation of roles of officers for the implementation of faceless assessment, making the National e-Assessment Centre (NeAC) as the main gateway for communication with a taxpayer.
The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has notified the National e-Assessment Center (NeAC) at Delhi and various Regional e-Assessment Centres (ReACs) across 20 cities for implementing the faceless assessment scheme.
All the functions would be through electronic means for which the NeAC will be the gateway and will function as such for all the flow of information.
The guidelines further said the power of survey under the Income Act henceforth will be exercised by the Investigation Directorates and the TDS charges only.
Under faceless scrutiny assessment, a central computer picks up tax returns for scrutiny based on risk parameters and mismatch and then allots them randomly to a team of officers.
This allocation is reviewed by officers at another randomly selected location and only if concurred, a notice is sent by the centralized computer system. All such notices need to be responded electronically without the requirement of visiting a tax office or meeting any official.

Report finds consumer sentiment improving amongst lower-income segments,smaller cities

Consumer sentiment has started to get "a little better", even though the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to worsen, said a report by the Boston Consulting Group (BCG). "Cautious living'' is emerging as the new theme, where consumers beginning to feel that it is time that they need to resume their activities albeit with a lot of caution, said the report titled 'COVID-19 Consumer Sentiment Research'.
Around 44 per cent of consumers think their income in the next six months will be lower than pre COVID levels - significantly lower than 57 per cent in the last round conducted over May 18-23.
There is also a pick up in routine activities with 53 per cent consumers stating that they have been going out to work and 66 per cent consumers saying that they have been visiting friends in the latest round as against 15 per cent and 10 per cent respectively in the last round.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

India invites investments in key sectors from UAE

External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar yesterday held extensive talks with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan covering a range of areas including ways to further boost strategic ties and the situation in the neighbourhood of both countries. The virtual talks were held as part of the 13th Session of the India-UAE Joint Commission Meeting on Trade, Economic and Technical Cooperation.
The Ministry of External Affairs said the Indian side invited further investments from the UAE in key sectors of the Indian economy such as infrastructure including logistics, food parks, highways, ports, airports, renewable energy and defence.
It said, wide-ranging discussions were held in a friendly, frank and constructive atmosphere, reflecting the strong bilateral ties between the two partners.
Both the Ministers noted with satisfaction the progress on institutional mechanisms which continue to guide and promote multifaceted bilateral cooperation through an extensive framework of agreements.
The two sides also discussed the regional issues pertaining to their neighbourhood and cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral fora.
The two sides welcomed the close cooperation during the last few months in the fight against COVID-19 and discussed a joint strategy to offset the economic and social impact of the pandemic on both countries.

European Council President calls for emergency summit on Belarus election

European Council President, Charles Michel has convened an emergency summit of EU leaders to discuss the situation arising out of the presidential election in Belarus. In a tweet Michael today said that the meeting would take place on Wednesday through video conference.
Belarus has been mired in protests since the results of the presidential election in the country were announced. Incumbent President, Alexander Lukashenko won over 80 percent vote in the election held on 9th of this month.
Speaking to state media, the President said any redistribution of power in Belarus should be carried out under the Constitution and not through street protests. He said work is under way to amend the current Constitution.

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::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Indian astronauts continue training for Gaganyaan mission despite COVID

The training of Indian astronauts in Russia for Gaganyaan mission is being held as per schedule notwithstanding the pandemic and the process will be completed as per schedule by March 2021. The bilateral summit expected to be held in October could see a signing of a pact for new areas of cooperation in space sector.
The Indian Embassy in Moscow is closely monitoring progress of astronaut training with the Indian envoy meeting the four astronauts recently. The Russian side has taken special care for healthcare of trainees.
India’s engagement with Russia in space relationships goes back to 1975, when the erstwhile Soviet Union helped in the launch of Aryabhata (India’s first satellite), from the Soyuz Launch Vehicle. Even the second satellite Bhaskara was launched from Soviet Union in 1979.
Two other areas where Russia is a critical partner are in the fields of satellite navigation through the Russian Satellite Navigation System ‘GLONASS’ for help in India’s own system called NavIC.
The second is in the development of GSLV (Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle) Launch Vehicle, which powers the Chandrayaan-2 and many upcoming missions of ISRO by providing the Cryogenic rocket technology .

::SPORTS::

England-Pakistan test match ends in draw

The second cricket Test between England and Pakistan ended in a draw on Monday.The host declared at 110 for four in its first innings, in reply to Pakistan’s 236, on a rain-affected final day which saw the first session being washed out.
England had started the day at seven for one after losing opener Rory Burns for a duck on the fourth day.Zak Crawley, the No. 3 batsman, scored 53 while opener Dom Sibley hit 32.
For Pakistan, pacer Mohammad Abbas picked up two wickets.England had won the first Test in Manchester by three wickets. The final match of the series will start in Southampton on Friday.

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