Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 19 DECEMBER 2018

::NATIONAL::

NCST demands restricted area permit in Andaman islands

•  The National commission of ST’s has written a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking re-imposition of Restricted Area Permit regime in six Islands in Andaman and Nicobar.
•  Chairperson of National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, Nand Kumar Sai has written a letter to Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking re-imposition of Restricted Area Permit regime in six Islands in Andaman and Nicobar.
•  These islands are inhabited by Andamanese, Jarawas, Sentinelese, Onges and Sapiens.
•  The Commission has recommended that large size posters and hoardings should be put up at the airport, seaport and all other important places in Andaman and Nicobar Islands decrying tourism and visit of any kind by the people to these islands. It said, surveillance and patrolling should be strengthened by Union Territory Police and Coast Guards.
•  The commission has also recommended that airspace above the North Sentinel Island should be declared as No Fly Zone for any type of civil aircraft.
•  The Commission wrote the letter after consultation with stakeholders following a news report last month regarding the alleged killing of a US National in the North Sentinel Island in Andaman.

Vice president says India committed to protect its minorities

•  The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu has said that India has always ensured a fair and impartial approach to its minorities and inclusion and non- discrimination have been our country’s non negotiable articles of faith.
•  Shri Naidu spoke of the stalwarts belonging to minority communities like Dr. ZakirHussain, ShriFakhruddin Ali Ahmed and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, the former Presidents of India, who have occupied a number of high constitutional, administrative, judicial and armed forces positions. He said that the minorities have been equal partners in India’s quest for growth and development.
•  The Vice President said that said that India, being a federal polity, Centre and state governments cooperate and coordinate and are able to put the interest of the nation above all else. He further said that India has always stood for timeless values of humanism, peaceful coexistence, and international brotherhood and shared progress through meaningful partnerships with world nations. India has never tried to conquer or subjugate any other country, he added.
•  The Vice President said that told the students that young people like them were the conduits through which partnerships of the future would be forged. He added that he was an ardent believer in the power and potential of the youth and in their capacity to transform the world.
•  Shri Naidu advised the business leaders of tomorrow to keep a few things in mind, to always keep apart a portion of their company’s profits, to help those who are less fortunate than themselves, to be mindful of the ecological footprints they leave, to relentlessly focus on innovation and to always be ethical. Your businesses should have a human face, he told the students.

::ECONOMY::

PM reiterates commitment to ease of doing business

•  Prime Minister NarendraModi has reiterated that the priority of Central Government is to ensure Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living. He was speaking in Pune on Tuesday after laying the foundatLises only numbered 65 lakh, which has now risen by 55 lakh.

SEBI advises mutual funds to strengthen in house risk assessment

•  Mutual funds need to strengthen their in-house risk assessment mechanism for fixed income products instead of completely relying on ratings agencies, said SEBI executive director S.V. MuralidharRao.
•  “Asset management companies to strengthen their in-house credit risk assessments system on fixed income products, instead of relying completely on the rating provided by the rating agencies” he said while speaking at the CII Mutual Fund Summit on Tuesday.
•  This assumes significance since many fund houses took a hit while holding paper issued by IL&FS, which has repeatedly defaulted on its repayment obligations.
•  While highlighting that mutual funds play a critical role in bringing stability, efficiency and transparency into the financial system, Mr. Rao said that the SEBI had recently allowed fund houses to create a segregated portfolio to manage bad assets.
•  “Looking at the global scenarios and considering the benefits of side pocketing, we have decided to allow mutual funds to create a segregated portfolio, with respect to debt and money market instruments, subject to various safeguards. This facility would be available to mutual funds based on the credit events at the issuer level,” he said.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

India-South korea CEPA held

•  The 7th round of India – South Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) negotiations were held inSouth Koreabetween 11-13 December, 2018.
•  During this period a delegation from the Indian sugar industry also visited South Korea.The Indian sugar industry delegation had detailed discussions with top representatives of all the three sugar refineries of South Korea. The meetings were arranged by the Indian Embassy in Seoul.
  
   South Korea imports around 15 lac tonnes of raw sugar annually and the Indian sugar industry is making efforts to export raw sugar from India during 2018-19 sugar season. The discussions were positive, and subject to Indian sugar industry meeting the quality standards and specifications prescribed by the South Korean Government.
•  The Indian sugar industry will undertake further discussions and talks with the sugar refineries in South Korea to pursue the matter further so that sugar exports may take place from India to South Korea.

India-Turkey trade cooperation expands further

•  Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Civil Aviation, Suresh Prabhu, said that India will address all the concerns of Turkey, fromagri products, banking issues, trade deficit and greater investments. The Commerce Minister said this during the bilateral meeting held with the Minister of Trade of Turkey, Ms. RusharPekcan, in New Delhi.
•  During the bilateral meeting Suresh Prabhu said that he will lead a high level business delegation to Turkey in February next year and will work with his Turkish counterparts to make sure that all the issues being raised in the bilateral meeting by the Turkish side are addressed.
•  The Commerce Minister requested the Minister of Trade of Turkey to organize the next India – Turkey Joint Committee for Economic and Technical Cooperation meeting as early as possible so that regular discussions on issues of concern between the two countries can be dealt with. Suresh Prabhu further said that India is excited to have a Comprehensive Trade Agreement with Turkey as early as possible.
•  The Draft Joint Study Group(JSG) report, discussed by both countries in August 2018, needs to be finalized soon so that negotiations may begin. India has submitted its chapter to JSG and Suresh Prabhu requested Turkey to make their submission as early as possible.
•  India-Turkey bilateral trade has increased significantly in the last one and a half decade. The major Indian exports to Turkey include medium oils and fuels, man-made filaments and staple fibres, automotive spare parts and accessories and organic chemicals. Turkey’s exports to India are poppy seeds, machinery and mechanical appliances, iron and steel articles, inorganic chemicals, pearls and precious stones and metals and marble.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

India confident in achieving clean energy targets

•  Prime Minister NarendraModi today said that India will strive to fulfill the targets for Clean Energy and Gas Based Economy not just for itself, but for the whole of humanity and the future generations.
•  He said this after laying the foundation stones of City Gas Distribution Projects in 65 Geographical Areas in 129 Districts from New Delhi today.
  
   MrModi said, Government is increasing the number of LNG terminals and working on Nationwide Gas Grid and City Gas Distribution together to strengthen the gas infrastructure in the country.
•  He said, the Centre is paying attention to all the dimensions of the Gas Based Economy as Gas networks in cities will create a new ecosystem, one that enables gas based industries, generates employment to youth and provides ease of living to citizens.
•  MrModi said that City Gas Distribution network will play a major role in achieving Clean Energy solutions.
•  He mentioned various Clean Energy initiatives of the Government like Ethanol Blending, Compressed Bio Gas plants, increased LPG coverage and introduction of BS-6 fuels for automobiles.
•  The Prime Minister has assured the world that India will take initiative to bring down its carbon emission level, and a number of initiatives have been taken in this direction like LED bulbs, BS VI fuel, Bio-energy, International Solar Alliance, PradhanMantriUjjawalaYojana, and providing clean piped gas supply to more cities is also a step in this direction.

::SPORTS::

India loses second test against Australia

•  In cricket, Australia defeated India by 146 runs in the second Test at Perth today. It has now levelled the four-match series 1-1. The hosts bundled out India for 140 runs in 56 overs in their second innings on the fifth and final day.
•  Starting from overnight 112 for five, India lost their last five wickets for 28 runs and it was all over within 65 minutes of play. Australia had scored 326 runs in their first innings, and 243 runs in their second innings to post a 287-run target for visitors. India had won the first Test in Adelaide by 31 runs.

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