Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 30 November 2019

::NATIONAL::

Govt.confirms it will not compromise on data sovereignity

The government today asserted that India will not compromise on data sovereignty and it is committed to ensure safety and security of messaging on platforms like WhatsApp.
Replying to calling attention motion in the Rajya Sabha today on reported use of spyware Pegasus to compromise phone data of some persons through WhatsApp, Electronics and IT Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad informed that not a single FIR has been lodged and so far, his ministry has received no complaint in this matter. He said, there are adequate provisions in IT act to ensure safety and security of messaging on various platforms.
Mr. Prasad said, there are standard operating procedures which are rigorously followed by security agencies and authorities for protecting the sovereignty and integrity of the country. He stressed that these standard operating procedures must be followed in the interest of the nation and clarified that no unauthorized interception was done.
He also said, digital players are welcome to contribute to the growing digital market of India but they have to understand that safety and security of Indians is prime importance.
On the snooping issue, the Minister informed that CERT-IN had sent a notice to Israel based company NSO on 26th November of this month seeking details about the malware and its impact on Indian users.
Responding to opposition queries on data protection bill, Mr. Prasad said, work is in progress in that direction and the legislation will be robust in nature.
He also took a dig on opposition members’ questions wondering why journalist, leaders and others questioning the government over reportedly snooped.

Govt. to consider creation of national coastal Mission to address climate change

Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Prakash Javadekar today said the government has envisaged establishing a National Coastal Mission under the National Action Plan on climate change.
Replying to questions in the Lok Sabha, Mr Javadekar said, the Mission aims addressing impact of climate change on coastal and maritime ecosystems, infrastructure and communities in coastal areas though mitigation measures.
The minister said, the government has launched Integrated Coastal Zone management project in 2010 to conserve, protect and manage the coastal and maritime ecosystems.
Mr Javadekar said the total expenditure under this project has been about 1400 crore rupees so far. The minister informed, the project has been implemented in identified coastal stretches in states of Gujarat, Odisha and West Bengal.

::ECONOMY::

CEA claims fundamentals of economy strong

The government has said, the fundamentals of Indian Economy is strong and the GDP growth rate is expected to pick up from the third quarter of Financial Year 2019-20.
While interacting with media in New Delhi on GDP numbers released today, Chief Economic Adviser K Subramanian said, IMF has projected India's GDP growth at 6.1 per cent in 2019-20 and 7 per cent in Financial Year 2020-21 in it's recently released report on World Economic Outlook.
Economic Affairs Secretary Atanu Chakraborty said, mega steps of reducing government stake in PSUs below 51 per cent has not happened anywhere.
He further said, Globally India is the fastest growing economy and expects an increase in investment, consumption and sentiment.
According to official data released today, India's economic growth slipped to 4.5 per cent in the July-September period of this fiscal.
The previous low was recorded at 4.3 per cent in the January to March period of 2012-13. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth was registered at 7 per cent in the second quarter of 2018-19.

India’s wheat production to set record next year due to good monsoons

India's wheat production could jump to a second consecutive annual record in 2020 as the wettest monsoon in 25 years is set to help farmers in expanding the area under the winter-sown crop while also boosting yields, industry officials told Reuters.
But that higher production would add to India's already swelling inventories, potentially forcing the world's second-biggest wheat producer to ramp up procurement of the grain from farmers and provide incentives for overseas sales to support local prices.
The country received monsoon rains during the June-September season that were 10% above average and the rainfall continued during October and November, increasing soil moisture levels required for crop sowing.
With the new MSP setting, export prices would be above $300 a tonne on a free-on-board basis, while supplies from the competing countries are available below $250 a tonne, said one Mumbai-based dealer with a global trading firm.
Higher production and negligible exports could force the government to increase procurement from farmers to ensure prices stay at or above the MSP, said Galipelli at Inditrade.

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::INTERNATIONAL::

PM announces 400m LOC to Srilanka on President’s visit

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has announced a 400 million dollar Line of Credit of to Sri Lanka to boost the island nation's development.
In a joint press statement after meeting visiting Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa in Delhi this afternoon, Mr Modi said that India will also extend a 50 million dollars Line of Credit to Sri Lanka to fight terrorism.
He said, strengthening mutual cooperation in dealing with terrorism was discussed in detail. He assured the Sri Lankan President of India's full assistance in taking his country on the path of rapid development.
Describing the meeting with Mr Rajapaksa as fruitful, the Prime Minister said, a strong and prosperous Sri Lanka is not only in the interest of India but also in the interest of the entire Indian Ocean region.
Mr Modi said, India gives priority to its relations with Sri Lanka under its Neighbourhood First' Policy. He expressed confidence that the Sri Lankan Government will carry forward the process of reconciliation to fulfil the aspirations of the Tamils for equality, justice, peace and respect.
The Sri Lankan President said in his statement that the discussions were cordial and reassuring and a major focus area of the deliberations was on security cooperation. He said, they discussed the fishermen's issue in length.This is Mr Gotabaya's first overseas visit since assuming office.

India to set up hi-tech parks in Bangladesh

India will set up 12 hi-tech parks in Bangladesh at a cost of $193 million.
Speaking at a business meeting in Rangpur organised by the local Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Thursday, High Commissioner of India to Bangladesh Riva Ganguly Das said that these hi-tech parks will provide training to 30,000 youth of Bangladesh as skilled IT professionals.
Responding to the issue of the trade imbalance between the two countries, Riva Ganguly Das said that diversification of the product basket of Bangladesh will help reduce the gap by increasing exports to India.
She also inaugurated Swami Vivekananda Bhawan at Rangpur which houses a Computer Center, Charitable Medical Centre, Coaching centre and student's home.

::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::

Centre to setup new rocket launch pad at Tamilnadu

Union Government is planning to set up a new rocket launch pad near Kulasekarapattinam in Tamil Nadu. At present, the Indian Space Research organisation (ISRO) has two launch pads at Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDCC) in Sriharikotta, Andhra Pradesh.
The development comes on the backdrop of increasing launches from India, both for domestic as well as international customers.
The new launch pad is intended to be used for future Indian rockets including- Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV) Mk III, Avatar Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), Unified Modular Launch Vehicle (UMLV), Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV), and even older ones like Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) and Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle (GSLV). However, the government did not elaborated on Launchpad’s exact usage.
As per ISRO, its workhorse Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) has launched as many as 84 satellites from 1994 to 2015, PSLV, of which 51 were for international customers. In 2018, the ISRO launched 17 missions but now number of launches every year by space agency has increased over 30.
Satish Dhawan Space Centre (or SHAR spaceport) at Sriharikotta is responsible for integration of launchers. SDCC houses two operational launch pads from where all GSLV and PSLV flights take place. ISRO has launched most of its customer satellites with its PSLV.

::SPORTS::

Angad Bajwa gets world record in skeet finals

In shooting, Angad Vir Singh Bajwa unofficially hit a world record score in the men's skeet final at the 63rd National Shooting Championships for Shotgun events in New Delhi today.
Angad defeated his senior and fellow Tokyo 2020 quota winner Mairaj Ahmad Khan of Uttar Pradesh, shooting a clean 60. Mairaj scored 58.Angad also equalled a record he jointly holds with skeet legend Vincent Hancock and two others.
Mairaj also had a splendid day, shooting a world record himself, a perfect 125 in qualifying to breeze into the final. However, both Angad and Mairaj will be credited with National records.