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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 12 June 2015

Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 12 June 2015

:: National ::

PM reviews progress of Swachh Bharat Mission

During a review of the Namami Gange programme, Prime Minister Narendra Modi directed officials to give priority to construction of toilets in habitations along the banks of the Ganga.
Mr. Modi also reviewed the progress of the Swachh Bharat Mission at a high-level meeting attended by officials of the Urban Development Ministry, the Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation Ministry, the NITI Aayog and the PMO.
With regards to generating awareness and bringing about attitudinal change towards cleanliness, the Prime Minister said spiritual leaders should be associated with such efforts, especially during major congregational events such as the Jagannath Yatra in Odisha and the Kumbh Mela in Uttar Pradesh. He also called for leveraging the huge interest that the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan has generated among the Indian diaspora.
The Prime Minister said motivational incentives such as awards should be instituted to give a boost to flagship government schemes requiring people’s participation. To promote awareness about these schemes in rural areas, he suggested that quiz competitions be held among students.
Officials briefed the Prime Minister on the progress on toilet construction in all the States. Mr. Modi directed officers to coordinate with States lagging in toilet construction.
Urban Development Minister Venkaiah Naidu and Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh were also present.

We fought 1971 war on our own, Bangladesh Minister tells Aziz

Condemning the statement of Pakistan Prime Minister’s Adviser on Foreign Affairs Sartaj Aziz, a senior Minister of Bangladesh said his country fought the 1971 Liberation War “on its own” and India stood by it as there was an international consensus.
Mr. Aziz had told the country’s Parliament that Islamabad had taken “strong notice” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement in Dhaka “acknowledging” India’s “intervention” in the events of 1971, reports said. “Pakistan will take all possible steps to expose India’s role in the break-up of East Pakistan in 1971 and its threat to destabilise Pakistan through terrorism,” Mr. Aziz had said.
Reacting to this, Mr. Haq told: “We fought the war on our own. Bangladesh and India formed a friendly alliance, approved by the international community, including the United Nations. India did not target Pakistan and only worked closely with Bangladesh.”
“In fact, I will move a step forward and ask why our relationship with Pakistan has not improved over the decades. I would say, it is because they [Pakistan] have not extended an apology for the atrocities they committed,” said Mr. Haq, who is a senior leader of the Left-leaning Jatiyo Somajtantrik Dal, an ally of the ruling Awami League-led government in Bangladesh.
Mr. Haq further alleged that Pakistan was abetting “militancy” in Bangladesh.
While hoping for a comprehensive border management with the exchange of instruments of the Land Boundary Agreement (1974) and Protocol (1911), Mr. Haq said sealing of the border is “not necessary.”
“We are two friendly nations and thus we can address all issues amicably. Things like barbed wire are not expected to be raised between friends,” Mr. Haq said.
The Minister was also optimistic about “a speedy” solution to the water sharing issue.
“When we met the Prime Minister (Mr. Modi), he told us categorically that the issue of water sharing — especially that of Teesta and Feni — will be addressed and solved amicably. I do not have any reason to doubt his commitment,” Mr. Haq said.

Bimal Roy, statistical institute chief, sacked

One-and-a-half months before the end of his term as Director of the Indian Statistical Institute (ISI), scientist Bimal Roy, who was conferred Padma Shri earlier this year, has been unceremoniously removed.
In an order issued by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Dr. Roy has been accused of “indiscipline” and the communication expresses apprehension that he may indulge in acts of “administrative and financial impropriety.”
He has been replaced by director-designate Sanghmitra Bandyopadhyay, who was supposed to take charge of Institute on August 1.
“There is justified and a reasonable apprehension that the present director Dr. B. Roy may indulge in propagation of indiscipline and mischief, including acts of administrative and financial impropriety in the interregnum up to 31st July 2015 (before the new Director Prof S. Bandyopadhayay takes charge on 1st August 2015),” the order said. It was issued by Ministry.
The order said Prof. Roy will stand divested of all administrative, financial and other powers and duties of Director, ISI with effect from the afternoon of June 10.
When contacted Dr. Roy, he refused to comment on the issue.
Dr. Roy who completed his bachelor and masters degree from ISI and has a Ph.D from the University of Waterloo was appointed Director of the institute in August 2010.
Dr. Bandyopadhay, a Shanti Swaroop Bhatnagar awardee, who takes over as the Director of the ISI is the first woman to lead the Institute.

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:: International ::

Former security czar gets life term in China

Former Chinese security chief Zhou Yongkang, the highest ranking ex-official to be investigated for corruption in decades, was sentenced to life in prison at a secret trial, state-media said.
Zhou admitted to charges of “bribery, abuse of power and leaking state secrets,” at a secret trial in the northern city of Tianjin, the official Xinhua news agency said in a surprise announcement.
Zhou (72) is a former member of the ruling Communist party’s Politburo Standing Committee, the highest decision making body, and wielded vast power as head of the police and courts until his retirement in 2012.
Zhou “admitted guilt and expressed regret,” Xinhua said, adding he would not appeal and that the court ruled to confiscate his personal property.
The court was cited by Xinhua as saying that Zhou and a number of associates received more than 2.1 billion yuan ($338 million) in profits from various illegal business activities.
Zhou himself was convicted of taking bribes of about 130 million yuan, Xinhua said.
China’s President Xi Jinping has vowed to bring down high-ranking officials in a campaign against endemic corruption, with a number of former senior officials placed under investigation since he came to power in 2012.
But critics say lack of systemic reforms mean the drive is little more than an excuse for political infighting.
After months of rumours, the party announced in July that Zhou was being investigated, before he was expelled and arrested last December.
China’s courts are tightly controlled by the Communist Party and have a near-perfect conviction rate, meaning Zhou was virtually certain to be found guilty.
Xinhua added the trial was “not open”, “because some of the facts of Zhou’s crimes involve state secrets”. The hearing’s date was not announced in advance.
The length of the trial was not given by Xinhua which said it included video testimony from Zhou’s wife and son.
The report linked Zhou to former China National Petroleum Corporation (CNPC) head Jiang Jiemin, but did not mention disgraced former Politburo member Bo Xilai, who Chinese media had linked with Zhou.
Zhou was a central figure in what some analysts have termed an “oil faction” within the Communist Party, a network of influential politicians who have ties with China’s petroleum industry — and is sometimes described as “China’s Dick Cheney”.
In 2002 he ascended to the upper echelons of Chinese leadership, with a slot in the ruling party’s 25-member Politburo and the role of Minister of Public Security.
Five years later he stepped up to the Politburo Standing Committee and was responsible for China’s internal security, including police, courts, jails and domestic surveillance. His tenure was marked by the brutal use of force in response to civic unrest, and stepped-up controls on dissidents and those publically challenging the Communist party.

:: Business and Economy ::

Rupert Murdoch to step down

Rupert Murdoch is preparing to step down as chief executive of the media-entertainment conglomerate 21st Century Fox and hand the job to his son James, CNBC television reported.
The report, citing “numerous sources close to the Murdoch family,” said the 84-year-old tycoon would remain executive chairman of the group with his other son Lachlan as co-chairman in the move this year or in early 2016.
The report said James Murdoch (42) would take over day to day management at Fox, working “in tandem with his 43-year-old brother Lachlan and his father.”
The company, which includes the Fox Hollywood studios and television entities, was created in 2013 when Mr. Murdoch broke off the struggling publishing operations of his News Corp. empire from the faster-growing media and entertainment operations. The split was aimed at “unlocking value” in the print and entertainment operations. He and his family remained in control of both companies after the split.

RBI allows NRIs to subscribe to chit funds

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has decided to permit non-resident Indians (NRIs) to subscribe to the chit funds without limit on a non-repatriation basis.
The subscription to chit funds, however, should come through the normal banking channel, including through an account maintained with a bank in India, the apex bank said.
The RBI has also added a rider saying that the Registrar of Chits or an officer authorised by the State Government in accordance with the provisions of the Chit Fund Act in consultation with the State Government concerned should permit any chit fund to accept subscription from NRIs on non-repatriation basis.
Hitherto, NRIs are not allowed to make investment in India in any form in a company or partnership firm or proprietary concern or any entity, whether incorporated or not, which is engaged or proposes to engage “in the business of chit fund”.
The RBI has also extended the scheme allowing airline companies raise external commercial borrowings (ECB) for working capital as a permissible end-use under the approval route. The scheme will now continue till March 31, 2016. Similarly, the apex bank has said that the scheme of raising ECB for low-cost affordable housing projects will continue for the financial year 2015-16.

Allocate more funds for recapitalisation of banks: RBI

The Reserve Bank of India said Rs.7,940 crore earmarked for recapitalisation of PSU banks in the current fiscal is not adequate and has asked the Finance Ministry to increase the quantum of assistance in view of mounting bad loans and to support growth.
“We have been suggesting to the Finance Ministry from time to time that the public sector banks need more capital than what budget has indicated. So, we have been raising this issue at various discussions and forums and it was also formally written by the Reserve Bank of India,” RBI Deputy Governor S S Mundra said here.
“Budgeted amount which is over Rs. 7,000 crore will not be adequate from the both perspective for enabling the bank for clean up of the books which is required and growth when it comes back, to support it,” he said.
Last fiscal, government infused Rs.6,990 crore in nine public sector banks based on their performance.
Asked about additional quantum of infusion needed beyond the budget amount, Mr. Mundra said there is no single way of calculation on the requirement and it is based on various factors.
“We have done some broad calculation for entire part of Basel-III committee implementation... What we are trying to indicate is that at this point of time because of certain stress on the book some capital would be consumed for cleaning of the books,” he said.
That cleaning is vital because when growth returns capital would be needed to support it, he said, adding that growth can be well supported with cleaner balance sheet rather than with a stress on books.
“That is the whole idea of increased capital. It can partly help to clean the balance sheet. Make the balance sheet ready to support when growth returns, additional capital will support the growth also,” he said.
Talking about setting up of a trading platform for receivables, Mr. Mundra said: “We have already invited applications and quite a few applications have been received by the RBI. They are currently under scrutiny.”
If such trading platform is set up, then it would provide cash flow to MSME against such receivables. It will help them overcome cash crunch.
“I would urge and hope that somehow if legislative process is brought in which makes mandatory for large corporates, public sector units and the government departments to compulsorily register on (receivables) trading platform so that when the small and medium units has done any supply to any of these institutions then the payment of receivables on due date becomes legal obligation,” he said.
“I believe recovery of dues is a major challenge for MSME so if it can become a legislative process or part of statute it will go a long way in supporting the sector,” he said. While NPAs are a matter of concern, they need to be dealt with, Mr. Mundra said, adding that a number of measures are being taken to contain it.
“Dealing with NPAs in a growth environment becomes easier than dealing with them in an environment which is either stagnant or decelerating,” he said.
Mr. Mundra further said that there is a need to do away with the credit guarantee scheme.
“Guarantee scheme, enhancing the limit, I would rather say credit guarantee schemes itself is something which will not run forever,” he said.

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:: Science and Technology ::

Google feature to speed up browsing on slow networks

Google launched a feature to enable people on slower data connections, such as 2G, to load webpages faster on their mobile phones at lower data costs.
The feature, targeted at emerging markets, will be rolled out in India in the next two weeks. But only those with Chrome or Android browsers can benefit from it.
“In India, where network connections are often slow, getting information on your phone can be tough and frustrating … In two weeks, we will start to roll out a new feature that will help pages load a whole lot faster, while using far less data, via Chrome or Android browser from Google’s search results,” Hiroto Tokusei, product manager, Google Inc, said.
Google says that with this feature, the pages will load four times faster but consume 80 per cent less data.
At present, 200 million Indians access the Internet from a smartphone.
“The users will not need to install an additional browser. The feature is triggered automatically when the user is on a slower network connection. Of course, they will be able to choose if they want to see the original page,” Mr. Tokusei said.
However, this optimisation will work only on 80 per cent of the websites. Websites such as YouTube and those requiring login (for instance, Facebook) will not be optimised.
Google has tested the feature in Indonesia and will soon be launching it in Brazil.

:: Sports ::

Dhoni sole Indian in Forbes list of world’s richest athletes

Cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni is among Forbes magazine’s 100 highest-paid athletes in the world, the only Indian sportsman on the list.
The list has been topped again by American boxer Floyd Mayweather and includes golfer Tiger Woods, tennis star Roger Federer and Portuguese footballer Cristiano Ronaldo.
Dhoni has been ranked 23rd on the list of The World’s Highest Paid Athletes 2015, dropping a notch from his ranking of 22 last year.
Dhoni’s total earnings stood at $31 million, including amounts from salary/winnings at $4 million and endorsements worth $27 million.
The 33-year-old cricketer retired from Test cricket at the end of 2014, but remains India’s skipper at the One-Day International and T20 levels. “He led India to the semifinal round of the 2015 cricket World Cup before suffering a loss to eventual champion Australia, and in May the Chennai Super Kings went to the IPL final for the sixth time in his eight years as team captain,” Forbes said.