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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 27 November 2019

::NATIONAL::

PM says country moved forward in last 5 years solving decade old problems

Prime Minister NarendraModi has said that India has witnessed a transformation in the last five years and has moved forward.
Addressing a conclave organised by a private TV channel in New Delhi last evening, Mr Modi said, problems that have lingered for decades have been solved.
He said people gave the mandate to the Government to work tirelessly to fulfil their aspirations. The Prime Minister said the citizens aspire to free the country from challenges that have gripped it for a long time. Speaking on abrogation of Article 370, the Prime Minister said, the country knows how much it has suffered because of it.
He said, the Article encouraged people who wanted to divide the country and it helped separatists and their interests in the region. He said after the abrogation, new doors are opening up for the development of union territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Referring to the Ayodhya issue, Mr Modi said it was lingering for a long time, and earlier Governments used to look for votes on the matter. Mr Modi said the issue of Triple Talaq, too, was stretched too long on vote bank politics.
The Prime Minister also spoke about several initiatives of the Government like GST, Mission Indradhanush, JalJeevan Mission and Housing for All.

Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill 2019 passed by Parliament

Parliament today passed the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Bill, 2019, with the RajyaSabha approving it today by a voice vote.
The LokSabha had already passed the bill. It defines a transgender person as one whose gender does not match the gender assigned at birth.It provides every transgender person a right to reside and be included in his household.
The Bill prohibits discrimination against a transgender person including denial of service, unfair treatment in education, employment, healthcare, enjoyment of goods, facilities, opportunities available to the public, right to movement and right to reside.
As per the legislation, no government or private entity can discriminate against a transgender person in employment matters including recruitment and promotion.
Replying to a debate on the bill, Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Thawar Chand Gehlot said that wider consultations have been made while framing the rules of this legislation.
He said recommendations of the Standing Committee directions of the Supreme Court and the suggestions of the members of the RajyaSabha have been taken into consideration.

::ECONOMY::

Centre to consider import restriction on all kinds of refined edible oils

The government is considering putting restrictions on the import of all kinds of refined edible oils while continuing to keep crude oils under the free category.
This will help India encourage import of more crude oils, facilitating better utilisation of the refining capacity of the domestic industry. Currently, both refined and crude edible oils are under the free category of foreign trade, resulting in an unrestricted inflow into the country.
If the proposal gets through, refined oils can be imported only after obtaining an import licence while crude oils can continue to be shipped in on the basis of the import export code, without the requirement of any kind of licences.
India imports only palm oil in both refined and crude forms while other edible oils like sunflower, soyabean and rapeseed are imported only in the crude form.
Apart from that, the government is also weighing the food ministry’s proposal of imposing either a 10% cess or 12% integrated GST (IGST) on refined palm oil.
“We have sent a proposal to the revenue department for increasing the IGST on imported crude to 12% to widen the tax gap between imported crude and refined oil. If we keep IGST on crude at the existing 5%, the gap will increase to 10%, bringing some relief for Indian refiners,” said a food ministry official.

Centre claims India as largest milk producer in the world

Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Giriraj Singh said India is the largest milk-producing country in the world and animal husbandry has been a major contributor to the growth of farmers.
He was speaking at an event organised to celebrate National Milk Day in New Delhi on 26th November. The Minister said the government is trying to increase the export of milk products, but some countries deliberately look for deficiencies in India's products.
He said, milk production in India has gone up from 137 million tonnes to 187 million tonnes and farmers have benefited immensely. He also recalled Dr.VergheseKurien's significant contribution to increasing milk production.
Ministers of State for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying Dr.Sanjeev Kumar Balyan and Pratap Chandra Sarangi along with other senior officials were also present on the occasion.
National Milk Day is celebrated to commemorate the birthday of Dr.VergheseKurien, the father of India’s White Revolution. The organized milk sector flourished in the country after the Independence due to the efforts of Dr Kurien. India's milk output surpasses that of all the European Union countries combined, which is followed by the US, China.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

Srilanka and Bangladesh observe constitution day

High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das today said that Indian Constitution gave people civil rights which were very forward-looking for the time when it was adopted.
Addressing a gathering of Indians working in Bangladesh on the occasion of the Constitution day, she said that drafting committee of Indian Constitution under the leadership of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar also laid out the roadmap to achieve the aspiration of social justice in India.
The Constitution Day was observed in the High Commission of India in Dhaka on Tuesday. Indian nationals living in Bangladesh and the employees of the High Commission participated in the event.
High Commissioner Riva Ganguly Das read out the preamble to the constitution to mark the occasion. A documentary 'Mooknayak' on the life and work of Dr Ambedkar was also screened on the occasion.
Constitution Day marks the day when the Constituent Assembly adopted the constitution in 1949.
In Sri Lanka, India's Constitution Day was marked by several programmes organized by the Indian High Commission in Colombo, and Consulates at Jaffna, Hambantota and Kandy.

Pakistan top court suspends Army chief term extension

Pakistan's Supreme Court today suspended the decision to grant a three-year term extension to Army chief General QamarJavedBajwa.
The move came just ahead of 59-year-old Bajwa's retirement on November 29.Prime Minister Imran Khan had approved an extension to the tenure of General Bajwa for another three years, citing the regional security environment.
The petition against Bajwa's extension was filed by a person named RaizRahi, who later filed an application to withdraw it.
However, Chief Justice AsifSaeedKhosa rejected the withdrawal bid and took up the petition as public interest litigation under Article 184.
During the hearing, the chief justice said the notification issued on the matter on August 19 mentioned an extension while the notification issued by the Prime Minister's Office says the army chief has been ‘re-appointed'.
Justice Khosa said that only the president of Pakistan can extend the tenure of the Army chief. He also observed that when the matter was discussed in the Cabinet, only 11 out of 25 members approved the extension.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

India crosses milestone of launching 300 foreign satellites

India crossed the milestone of launching 300 foreign satellites on Wednesday morning when its rocket Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle-XL (PSLV-XL) puts into orbit 13 nano satellites from the US.
The American satellites are piggy backing on the rocket's main luggage, India's advanced earth observation satellite Cartosat-3.
Before today, India with its PSLV rocket has put into orbit 297 foreign satellites. When the PSLV rocket on Wednesday puts into orbit 13 American nano satellites then the total number of foreign satellites that India has launched will touch 310.
Since its incorporation in 1992, Antrix Corporation has handled such third party satellite launch contracts, leasing of communication satellite transponders, marketing of data from remote sensing satellites, building and marketing of satellites as well as satellite mission support services, and establishing ground infrastructure for space applications.
In addition to the above lines of business, NewSpace India will also be the nodal agency for the production of PSLV and Small Satellite Launch Vehicles (SSLV) through industry consortiums and partners.

::SPORTS::

Indian archers wins medals at Asian championship

Led by Atanu Das, Indian archers bagged three bronze medals today and also ensured at least three silver medals, at the ongoing Asian Championship at Bangkok.
The Indian archers are competing in the tournament as neutral athletes under the World Archery flag due to the suspension of the national federation, Archery Association of India, AAI.
Das first clinched a bronze in the men's recurve individual event in the morning. He beat Jin Hayek Oh of Korea 6-5 in the shoot-off in the bronze medal contest. Das teamed up with senior pro-TarundeepRai and JayantaTalukdar to beat China 6-2 in the bronze medal tie.