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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 11 January 2015

:: National ::

Where is the need for law on defacement of properties: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has posed a question to the government authorities on the need for a legislation on defacement of properties in the Capital when a policy on outdoor advertisements was already in existence.
The question pertained to the Delhi Prevention of Defacement of Property (DPDP) Act adopted in 2009. A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice G. Rohini and Justice R.S. Endlaw asked the Delhi Government earlier this week to clarify its stand on the issue by January 12.
The Court was hearing a writ petition moved by the Aam Aadmi Party and a city resident, Anil Bhatia, challenging the action for removal of posters from the houses of people.
The petitioners said the move amounted to denial of right to freedom of speech of the citizens who had willingly put up the posters on their property.
The petition contended that the DPDP Act should not be invoked when the posters or banners were put up on the houses and other buildings with the consent of their owners.
The petition was filed after the Delhi Police removed posters from private properties of AAP supporters and threatened them with action under the Act.

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:: Sports ::

Avinash emerges champion in National junior snooker

Avinash Kumar continued his giant-killing spree to win his maiden National junior snooker title at the BRC. The 20-year-old Delhi cueist won all his round-robin semifinal league games, losing just three frames.
“He played spectacular snooker. His extraordinary show has caught the attention of everyone in this National meet,” said former World billiards champion Manoj Kothari.
“We will try and get him scholarship from one of the oil companies,” he informed. Avinash, whose parents migrated to Delhi from Patna, did not drop a single frame.
Playing his second league game against Hritik Jain from Madhya Pradesh, Avinash was thrashed 1-63 in the opening frame. “I came to the venue late and hardly had time to warm-up,” he said.
“Though I won the second frame I was still not be able to focus well. I got my rhythm back in the fourth and there was no stopping me.” Avinash lost the first frame to S. Shrikrishna of Tamil Nadu 11-72 in the final league game only to take the next four in a row.

:: Science & Technology ::

Country’s highest zoo attempts to save high altitude herbivores

The initiative taken by Darjeeling’s Padmaja Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park (PNHZP) in conserving high altitude herbivores that have been on the path of extinction, has served to stem the rapid decline in their numbers.
Some of the animals that have been included in the conservation programme of PNHZP, the countries highest altitude zoo located at over 7,000 ft, are the Blue Sheep, the Himalayan Tahr, the Himalayan Goral and the Markhor.
All the four herbivores have been placed in the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, which denotes that the species are ‘threatened’. The conservation of these animals is also crucial for the Himalayan ecosystem.
“All the four herbivores are the main prey of the much endangered Snow leopard. A decrease in their numbers will naturally affect the existence of the elusive mountain cat,” Upashna Rai, the biologist in the PNHZP told.
Conserving these herbivores serves the dual purpose of protecting the snow leopard as well. The PNHZP is also involved in the global conservation and breeding programme of the snow leopard.
The Darjeeling Zoo has taken the initiative of breeding these high altitude herbivores and is also involving the other high altitude zoos in breeding and conservation of the species.
It has provided to each of the main zoos of Sikkim and Nainital one pair of the Blue Sheep and the Himalayan Goral as a part of an exchange programme.

:: Business & Economy ::

‘Vibrant Gujarat’ now India’s principle economic summit

Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the Vibrant Gujarat Global Investors Summit has become the country’s “principle economic summit” and welcomed other states organising similar events.
“The more the states organise it, the more their idiom and their attitude in support of investment change.... it’s a welcome phenomenon,” he told reporters on the sidelines of the summit in Gandhinagar.
The Finance Minister said the recent trend, wherein states like Madhya Pradesh and West Bengal have held such summits while Maharashtra is also mulling one such show, is very heartening and he is glad that such aggressive activities are being undertaken.
The Uttar Pradesh government has also adopted an aggressive posture in attracting investors, with a strong media campaign wooing investors. “I think this has become the principle economic summit as far as India is concerned.
Now I think this is where economic activity is happening,” Mr. Jaitley said. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also lauded the efforts by states and promised all help from the Centre in the efforts.
“Today, many other states have adopted this approach. Government of India is committed to supporting any such initiative of any state government,” he said in his speech.
Mr. Modi stressed a lot on the growth potential of the country and outlined his approach on the way forward in fastening the economic growth.
Speaking at the session on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Mr. Jaitley said there is a huge amount of inequality in the society which is visible in things like lack of access to clean drinking water, absence of toilets etc, even though there is a widespread notion that the country is growing.

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:: International ::

Sri Lanka’s new government to probe Rajapaksa’s ‘coup’ bid

Sri Lanka's new government accused former President Mahinda Rajapaksa of having tried to stage a military coup to remain in power following presidential polls, which saw his chief rival and former minister Maithripala Sirisena elected president.
Mangala Samaraweera, a top aide of President Sirisena, told reporters that the coup was averted because the army chief “did not want to do anything against democracy at that decisive time.”
This, he said, was despite orders from Mr. Rajapaksa and his brother Gotabhaya Rajapaksa, then the defence secretary to deploy troops to centres where the votes were being counted late on January 8.
The new cabinet, to be sworn in soon, would initiate an investigation into the pre-dawn “conspiracy” as one of its first tasks, he added. The allegations come just days after sections hailed Mr. Rajapaksa for “stepping down gracefully” and ensuring a smooth transition of power .
“The truth is it was not a smooth transition of power,” said Mr. Samaraweera, who earlier served as Foreign Minister and is tipped to be a key member of President Sirisena’s cabinet.
When contacted, Army commander Lieutenant General Daya Ratnayake told: “I have not seen those allegations yet, so I cannot respond.” Referring to earlier concerns over the army being deployed in the north and east to allegedly disrupt elections, he said: “You saw that there was no such incident. The transition was very smooth,” he said.
On whether Mr. Rajapaksa or his brother gave him orders to stage a coup, General Ratnayake said: “I can’t comment on that, it is very sensitive. You have to check with the politicians.” However, should the government initiate an enquiry, the army would cooperate in the process, he said.