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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 24 June 2019

::NATIONAL::

Loksabha takes up motion of thanks and other important bills

Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Aadhaar and and Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the Lok Sabha today. It will replace an ordinance issued in March this year and proposes stiff penalties for violation of norms.
The Bill seeks to amend Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act 2016, the Indian Telegraph Act 1885 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002. The Bill also proposes give children an option to exit from the biometric ID programme on attaining 18 years of age.
NK Premachandran of RSP opposed the introduction of bill saying that it violates an earlier Supreme Court judgment and allows private entities to store. Allaying concerns, Mr Prasad said, Aadhaar is in national interest and it does not violate privacy.
He said, he wants to reassure that there is no mandatory compliance because SIM cards can be taken with or without Aadhaar. The bill makes provision for allowing voluntary use of Aadhaar as an identity proof for opening bank accounts and getting mobile phone connection.
The Lok Sabha has taken up the Motion of Thanks on the President's address. The motion was moved by Union Minister of State Pratap Chandra Sarangi. He said the Center and the states should work together for the progress of the nation.
The Rajya Sabha is also scheduled to take up the motion today. Newly appointed BJP working President JP Nadda will open the debate in the Upper House. President Ram Nath Kovind had addressed the joint sitting of both Houses on the 20th of this month. The Parliament session will continue till 26th of July.

CJI seeks removal of Allahabad high court judge

Months after an in-house panel found an Allahabad High Court judge, Justice S.N. Shukla, guilty of misconduct, Chief Justice of India Ranjan Gogoi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate a motion for his removal.
A three-judge committee, comprising Chief Justices Indira Banerjee, S.K. Agnihotri and P.K. Jaiswal of the Madras, Sikkim and Madhya Pradesh High Courts, respectively, in January 2018 concluded there was sufficient substance in the allegations in the complaint against Justice Shukla and that the aberrations were serious enough to call for initiation of proceedings for his removal.
Following the committee’s report, the then Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, in accordance with the relevant in-house procedure, advised Justice Shukla either to resign or seek voluntary retirement.
After he refused to do so, Chief Justice Misra asked the Chief Justice of the Allahabad High Court to withdraw judicial work from him with immediate effect, after which he reportedly went on a long leave.
On March 23, Justice Shukla wrote to Chief Justice Gogoi, requesting that he be allowed to discharge judicial work in the High Court.
“As the allegations against Justice Shukla were found by the committee to be so serious as to warrant the initiation of proceedings for his removal, he cannot be allowed to resume judicial work in any High Court. In these circumstances, you are requested to consider further action,” Chief Justice Gogoi wrote to the PM.
When the CJI writes to the President and the PM for removal of a High Court judge, the Rajya Sabha Chairperson appoints a three-judge inquiry committee in consultation with the CJI to look into the allegations.

::ECONOMY::

CII pitches for new national board on jobs

Pitching for a comprehensive national employment mission, India Inc on Sunday called for an inter-ministerial and all-State National Employment Board for driving job creation, while also recommending an “immediate action” plan, including labour law reforms.
The CII said States should have the power to determine the minimum wage based on geographic location, skill and occupation. However, it cannot be lower than the minimum wage fixed by the Centre.
“The concept of a national minimum wage will affect job creation, so it is necessary to give States power to fix their own minimum wages,” it said, adding that the government should fix the minimum wage of unskilled workers. However, wages of skilled and semi-skilled labour force should be determined by market forces.
Under the Prime Minister’s Rozgar Protsahan Yojana, the wage threshold should be increased to Rs. 25,000 from Rs. 15,000, it said. The scheme provides for government contribution to EPF and EPS for new employees earning less than Rs. 15,000 for three years.

Foreign investments remain bullish in June

Overseas investors have infused more than 10,000 crore rupees in the domestic capital markets this month so far, with debt segment accounting for the lion's share.
Experts said that equity investments have slowed down on account of rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia as well as US-India trade conflict.
As per the latest depositories data, foreign portfolio investors, FPIs, pumped in around 552 crore rupees into equities and around 9,761 crore into the debt market during Jun 3 to 21, taking the cumulative net investment to 10,313 crore rupees.
FPIs have been net buyers for the previous four consecutive months. They invested around 9,031 crore rupees in May, 16,093 crore rupees in April, 45,981 crore rupees in March and 11,182 crore rupees in February into the Indian capital markets-both equity and debt.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

Women peacekeepers join UN mission in Congo

A team of women peacekeepers from India has assumed duties in the UN mission in Congo with a focus on working with women and children worst affected by conflict.
The Female Engagement Team from India, comprising nearly 20 women peacekeepers began its deployment with the United Nations Organisation Stabilisation Mission Democratic Republic of Congo also known as MONUSCO which is considered one of the most challenging peacekeeping missions under the UN flag.
Military Advisor to the Permanent Mission of India to UN Colonel Sandeep Kapoor said, India's deployment of the Female Engagement Team is in line with Secretary General Antonio Guterres' priority and initiative to ensure increased participation of women peacekeepers in the UN.
The Indian brigade is deployed in the North Kivu province of the African Nation with almost 38 armed groups operating and contesting to control the areas rich in natural resources. He said, the team will conduct patrolling and engage with women and locals in that country to gain their trust.
They will also undertake civic programmes and assist in conduct of investigations and riot control among other duties. India is the second largest troop contributor to MONUSCO, with 2624 peacekeepers and 274 police personnel deployed as of March this year.

Saudi launches new residency scheme to boost revenue

Saudi Arabia on Sunday launched a new special residency scheme aimed at luring wealthy expats as the petro-state seeks to boost non-oil revenue.
The scheme offers a permanent residency for 800,000 riyals ($213,000) and a one-year renewable residency costing 100,000 riyals ($27,000), according to the online portal for registrations.
The scheme will allow expats to do business without a Saudi sponsor, buy property and sponsor visas for relatives, the website said.
Analysts say the programme will largely benefit wealthy Arabs who have lived in Saudi Arabia for years without permanent residency or MNCs seeking to do long-term business .
The move appears to be aimed at boosting non-oil revenue as the kingdom seeks to diversify its economy.
Though it was approved by the Saudi Cabinet last month, the portal began accepting applications on Sunday.Saudi Arabia is currently home to some 10 million overseas workers.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Indian scientists develop antibodies against chikungunya infection

The Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), which functions under the Department of Biotechnology, has entered into a non-exclusive license for product commercialisation after having successfully developed antibodies against the Chikungunya viral (CHIKV) infection.
The antibodies were developed following decade-long research on the CHIKV infection at the ILS laboratory headed by Dr. Soma Chattopadhyay, a senior molecular virologist. In fact, Dr. Chattopadhyay has been selected for the Biotech Product, Process Development and Commercialisation Award 2019 by the Department of Biotechnology.
The ILS will partner with a biotechnology-based company for product commercialisation and marketing of antibodies in a 60:40 profit sharing basis.
“These CHIKV proteins were chosen as targets specifically for their critical role in virus survival as they largely govern the overall process of replication and infection in host cells. Development of these antibodies [nsP2 monoclonal, nsP1, nsP3 and nsP4 polyclonals] was therefore crucial to perform experiments pertaining to CHIKV infection, and thereby advance our basic knowledge ” said the scientist.
ILS sources said the antibodies against CHIKV were receiving a tremendous response, and were being purchased by research laboratories across world.

::SPORTS::

South east Asian nations to bid for 2034Football world cup

South-East Asian countries will jointly bid to host the 2034 Football World Cup. Speaking to media after the meeting of ASEAN countries in Bangkok, Prime Minister of Thailand Prayuth Chan-ocha invited the people of ASEAN to support the football associations in their countries to host the tournament.
The FIFA World Cup has held only once in the continent when Japan and South Korea were joint hosts in 2002. Qatar will bring it back to Asia in 2022.
The ASEAN countries are Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei. ASEAN region is home to more than 640 million people many of whom follow football avidly.