Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 18 October 2018

::NATIONAL::

Supreme court prevents state diversion of CAMPA funds

The Supreme Court has barred State governments from diverting money from their Compensatory Afforestation and Management Planning Authority (CAMPA) funds meant for environmental protection, rehabilitation of displaced persons due to issues like depletion of forest, mining, etc
The apex court’s order came after realising that the Punjab government took Rs. 1.11 crore from CAMPA funds and to pay its lawyers and other legal expenses.
A Bench of Justices Madan B. Lokur, S. Abdul Nazeer and Deepak Gupta, on October 1, ordered the Punjab government to reimburse Rs. 1,11,01,420 to its CAMPA funds within a fortnight. The court discovered the diversion of funds from a document prepared by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, Punjab, and placed on record before the Bench.
The court was hearing a suo motu case titled In Re: National CAMPA Advisory Council. This is part of a major effort by the Supreme Court since 1995 to prevent and monitor environmental degradation. The idea of having CAMPA funds and authority was introduced by the apex court. The periodic orders of the court in this litigation finally led to the birth of

The Compensatory Afforestation Fund Act of 2016

The apex court had observed that this was a “huge amount” which can be used for the benefit of environmental protection and rehabilitation of persons displaced by environmental causes. Availability of these amounts will not only help the States/UTs and local communities to ensure better management of their forest resources.
The 2016 Act’s objective is promote conservation, protection, improvement and expansion of forest and wildlife resources of the country.

GoM to look into sexual harassement cases

The Narendra Modi government is considering setting up a Group of Ministers (GoM) to brainstorm on ways to deal with sexual harassment at workplace, say sources.
Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad, Home Minister Rajnath Singh and women Ministers would be members of this GoM.
Sources also say that a panel of judges and legal persons announced by Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi to look at ways to strengthen the legal and institutional framework was being examined by the Ministry of Law but it may not be a legally sound instrument
The GoM, therefore, will go into strengthening the existing laws so that justice can be availed without having to bring the matter to court all the time,” said a senior Minister.
Both Ms. Gandhi and Textile Minister Smriti Irani have been the two voices within the government that have batted for survivors of sexual harassment at workplace.
“The Prime Minister has always given top priority to the rights of women. The first programme that he launched was ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’. We don’t save our daughters to allow big shots to insult them later in life,” Ms. Gandhi had told PTI in an interview.

::ECONOMY::

SEBI orders recovery from healthcare giant Fortis

The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has ordered Fortis Healthcare to recover Rs. 403 crore, along with interest, from about 10 entities, including the company’s erstwhile promoters, Malvinder Singh and Shivinder Singh, within three months.
The SEBI order follows a regulatory probe that, among other things, found that the Singh brothers were the ultimate beneficiaries when funds were moved from the listed entity to a subsidiary and thereafter to three borrower entities.
The SEBI probe was initiated in February after reports surfaced that the promoters of Fortis Healthcare took out Rs. 500 crore from the company and that the auditors Deloitte Haskins & Sells LLP refused to sign the accounts for the second quarter of the financial year 2017-18
According to the SEBI probe, Fortis Hospitals gave loans to three borrower entities Best Healthcare, Fern Healthcare and Modland Wears – by way of inter-corporate deposits (ICDs). The ultimate beneficiaries of the three entities were RHC Holding and Religare Finvest with the former being controlled by the Singh brothers
Interestingly, while Fortis Hospitals entered into multiple structured transactions between June 2016 and June 2017, the loans were given at the beginning of each quarter and returned by the companies by the end of the quarter and thereby were never being reported in the balance sheet as the outstanding amount at the end of the quarter was nil, as per SEBI.

First National Summit on Invest in AYUSH held

On the occasion of Ayurveda Day celebrations, Ministry of AYUSH is organising First National Summit on Invest in AYUSH at Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi on 4th November, 2018. The summit is to encourage public sector undertakings (PSUs) under different Ministries/Departments of the Government and private companies to invest in AYUSH.
The AYUSH Minister also said that Ministry of AYUSH has signed MoU with Ministry of Micro Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to develop entrepreneurs in AYUSH sector and to strengthen the existing AYUSH Industry sector including manufacturers of AYUSH drugs, cosmetics, food supplements, hospital industry, etc.
He further said that we will be working with MSME to organize 50 Entrepreneurship Development Programs in next one year in different cities covering all the states across the country.
Ministry of AYUSH has taken many initiatives for promotion and propagation of AYUSH systems. There is growth of 15.38% in the number of patients treated with AYUSH systems of Medicine through AYUSH Hospitals and Dispensaries in last four years.
The Government of India has allowed hundred percent foreign direct investments in health sector. Due to resurgence in the global demand for AYUSH and Herbal products the total value of Export the AYUSH and Herbal products has increased to from USD 354.68 million in year 2014 -15 to USD 401.68 million in year 2016-17 in global market.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

India & China to resume joint army exercise

India and China will resume the annual joint Army exercise ‘Hand-in-Hand’ in December in China’s Chengdu region, an Army official said. The drill was cancelled last year due to tense relations in the aftermath of the Doklam standoff.
“The Exercise Planning Conference is scheduled to be held from November 1-3 at Chengdu in China to work out the modalities of the exercise,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
Following the Wuhan summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping in April, the two countries have initiated several measures to normalise relations.
About 175 personnel from each side will take part. The Indian sidewould be represented by troops from the 11 Sikh Light regiment under the Northern Command.
The scope of the exercise is to understand transnational terrorism and evolve joint drills for the conduct of counter terrorism operations, in addition to Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations.
The exercise will be held in three phases familiarisation, basic training and the joint exercise.
Separately, the Army has for the first time organised a forward area tour to Leh on October 16 and 17 for interested foreign service attaches posted in India.

Vice President leaves for Belgium to attend ASEM Summit

The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu today left for Belgium to attend the two-day 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) in Brussels.The theme of the ASEM Summit is ‘Global Partners for Global Challenges’.
The bi-annual event is considered the highest platform for dialogue and cooperation between Asia and Europe in the areas of trade, investment, security and tourism. As many as 51 Heads of States/ Heads of Government are expected to participate in the Summit where a wide range of issues from climate change to terrorism are expected to be discussed.
This will be the first multi-lateral summit the Vice President will be attending after taking office in August 2017.
The Vice President will also participate in the Plenary Session and have interactions with various stakeholders. He will also call on His Majesty, the King of the Belgians and have bilateral meetings with the Heads of State / Government from Austria, Portugal, Switzerland and other countries on the sidelines of the Summit.
The Vice President will also address the Indian Diaspora at the Jain Culture Centre in Wilrijk, Antwerp and pay respects and offer floral tribute at a sculpture of Mahatma Gandhi located in the Governorate at Antwerp.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

CSIR develops affordable Water Disinfection System “OneerTM”

Council of Scientific and Industrial Research ,Indian Institute of Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), Lucknow has developed an innovative technology for “Drinking Water Disinfection System” with Trade name “OneerTM”.
It is useful for continuous treatment of water and eliminates all disease causing pathogens such as virus, bacteria, fungi, protozoa and cyst to provide safe drinking water to domestic and communities settings as per National and International standards prescribed for potable water (BIS, WHO etc.).
Director General, CSIR and Secretary, DSIR lauded the efforts of CSIR-IITR Scientists in developing Oneer-a safe drinking water device especially for rural areas. He said that currently, a large proportion of India's rural community is consuming water that does not meet the WHO drinking water quality standards. According to the World Health Organization, "access to safe drinking-water is essential to health, a basic human right and a component of effective policy for health protection”.
CSIR is continuously focusing on translational research through Mission Projects and Fast Track Translational Research Projects to develop technologies and products focussed at unmet needs. One of the components of the programme is to enhance the quality of life of common people and remove drudgery.
The smaller unit of Oneer is particularly suitable for homes, street food vendors, and small establishments.

::SPORTS::

Thrilling win for Brazil in friendly match

Brazil snatched a dramatic 1-0 win over Argentina with an injury-time header from Miranda in a friendly match in front of a sell-out crowd in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
The Inter Milan centre-back was left all alone to thump in a 93rd-minute effort from Neymar’s corner when the match between the fierce South American rival seemed destined for a stalemate.
The lapse spoiled an otherwise strong defensive performance from Argentina, who contained Brazil for long periods.