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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 29 May 2015

Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 29 May 2015

:: National ::

India to set up IT listening posts in Bangladesh

The signing of a memorandum of understanding for the setting up of Information Technology centres in Bangladesh is expected to be announced during the two-day visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi beginning June 6.
Apart from imparting training to the Bangladesh police forces in the use of modern technologies, it is learnt that the centres would operate as a hub for intelligence gathering and detecting cyber-based offences, including terror activities and intrusions.
The plan for establishing the IT centres took shape during the visit of an Indian delegation of senior government officials to Bangladesh last year. In a joint statement on the first meeting of the India-Bangladesh Joint Consultative Commission in May 2012, India had announced to set up IT labs in 64 model schools and IT centres at the Military Institute for Science & Technology, Bangladesh Public Administration Training Centre and Bangladesh Police Academy.
“Both countries have been working in close coordination, particularly in the areas of counter-terrorism and cross-border organised crimes. It is one of the initiatives on our part to further strengthen the security infrastructure of our friendly neighbour,” said a government official.
A recent example of the increased level of cooperation between the two countries in security affairs is information exchange on the Bardhaman blast case being probed by the National Investigation Agency in India. “A close coordination between the security agencies on both sides has led to several arrests.”
As part of the agreement, Indian agencies would assist their Bangladeshi counterparts in constructing buildings from where the IT centres would function. They are also expected to provide the necessary equipment for the centres. According to sources, the government plans to rope in cyber experts from various enforcement agencies to impart training to Bangladeshi security forces.

India tops world hunger list with 194 million people

India is home to the highest number of hungry people in the world, at 194 million, surpassing China, according to United Nations annual hunger report.
At the global level, the corresponding figure dropped to 795 million in 2014-15, from 1 billion in 1990-92, with East Asia led by China accounting for most of the reductions, UN body Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) said in its report titled ‘The State of Food Insecurity in the World 2015.’ India too saw a reduction between 1990 and 2015, it added. In 1990-92, those who were starved of food in India numbered 210.1 million, which came down to 194.6 million in 2014-15.
“India has made great strides in reducing the proportion of food insecure persons in the overall population, but according to FAO, it still has over 194 million hungry persons. India’s numerous social programmes are expected to continue to fight hunger and poverty,” the report stated.
However, China stood out as the reduction in the number of hungry people was much higher than in India, which came down to 133.8 million in 2014-15 from 289 million in 1990-92.
“A majority — 72 out of 129 — of the countries monitored by FAO have achieved the Millennium Development Goal target of halving the prevalence of undernourishment by 2015, with developing regions as a whole missing the target by a small margin,” the report said.
Talking of noticeable progress, the report made a specific mention of Latin America and the Caribbean, southeast and central Asia as well as some parts of Africa. The overall analysis suggested that inclusive economic growth, agricultural investments and social protection, along with political stability, can eradicate hunger, the report added.

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:: International ::

Republican Nebraska bans death penalty

Nebraska this week became the first ‘red State’ since 1973 to abolish the death penalty after state legislators banded together to overrule a veto by Governor Pete Ricketts.
The State gained notoriety in 2011 in its scramble to execute death row inmates. Prison authorities then had reached out to foreign suppliers of lethal drugs, including several in India, following massive shortages in the U.S. of the sedative sodium thiopental.
They did so despite import approvals not being authorised by the U.S. regulator, the Food and Drug Administration. Yet media reports, including in The Hindu , highlighted the role of the Indian firm involved, Kayem Pharma, which subsequently pulled out of the deal with the U.S. prison.
This week, however, the staunchly Republican State overcame resistance from Governor Rickett’s office to pass by a margin of 30 to 19 votes, a bill to abolish the death penalty altogether.
The bill’s sponsor State Senator Ernie Chambers was quoted saying, “Today we are doing something that transcends me, that transcends this Legislature, that transcends this State.” Mr. Chambers said that he had attempted to repeal the death penalty 37 times in his four decades as a lawmaker.
However with Nebraska being the only conservative-dominated State to end the death penalty since North Dakota did so 42 years ago, there appeared to be a strong pushback from the Governor’s office.
Following the upturning of his veto in the legislature on Wednesday Governor Ricketts said, “My words cannot express how appalled I am that we have lost a critical tool to protect law enforcement and Nebraska families,” adding that the legislature had “lost touch with the citizens of Nebraska…”
Nationwide, a majority of Americans support the death penalty although that level of support has been steadily declining for two decades now.
There is a clear partisan divide in terms of support for capital punishment — while 75 per cent of Republicans support it, it is opposed by a majority of Democrats.

Nepal to host donors’ meet

With the stated aim of raising NRs 200 bilion for post-earthquake reconstruction in Nepal, the government decided to hold a conference of international in Kathmandu on June 25.
Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat told that “Japan was likely to co-host the next such conference to raise funds for Nepal”.

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:: Business and Economy ::

RBI plans to introduce PPI for mass transport system

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday proposed to introduce a separate category of semi-closed Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) for Mass Transit System (PPI-MTS).
The PPI-MTS can be used within the mass transit systems and will have a minimum validity of six months from date of issue.
Such PPIs will be re-loadable instruments subject to an outstanding limit of Rs.2,000 at any point of time, RBI suggested in a draft circular for public comments.
PPI for mass transit systems, which handle a large number of small value cash payments, will facilitate the migration to electronic payments in line with the country’s vision of moving to a less-cash society, the RBI added.
Comments and suggestions should reach the RBI on or before June 15, 2015.
The RBI said that it has been receiving requests from various segments, including providers of mass transit services, such as, metro train and road transport services, indicating the need for PPIs catering to the requirements of this segment to enhance commuter convenience.
The Reserve Bank of India also proposed to make Net Stable Funding Ratio (NSFR) applicable to banks in India from January 1, 2018.
RBI released on its website draft guidelines on NSFR under Basel III Framework on liquidity standards for banks.
It has requested for comments on these guidelines by email at the earliest, but not later than June 26, 2015.
The objective of NSFR is to ensure that banks maintain a stable funding profile in relation to the composition of their assets and off-balance sheet activities.
The NSFR limits over-reliance on short-term wholesale funding, encourages better assessment of funding risk across all on- and off-balance sheet items, and promotes funding stability.

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:: Science and Technology ::

Christopher appointed head of DRDO

The government appointed distinguished scientist Dr. S. Christopher as Director General of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and Dr. G.S. Reddy as Scientific Advisor to Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar.
The Appointments Committee of Cabinet has approved appointment of Dr. Christopher as Secretary, Department of Defence Research and Development-cum-Director General, DRDO for a period of two years from the date of taking over the charge, the Department of Personnel and Training said in a statement.
While Dr. Christopher is currently Distinguished Scientist and Programme Director (airborne early warning and control system) and Director, Centre for Air-Borne Systems in Bengaluru, Dr. Reddy is Distinguished Scientist and Director, Research Centre Imarat and Programme Director of Medium Range Surface to Air Missile (MRSAM) project.
DRDO has been without a head for the last four months after the contract of Dr. Avinash Chander as Secretary, DoDRD & DG DRDO and Scientific Adviser to Defence Minister was terminated with effect from January 31.

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:: Sports ::

Kochi gets provisional nod to host FIFA under-17 World Cup

Kochi has been provisionally selected as a host of the 2017 under-17 FIFA World Cup.
Tournament Director Javier Ceppi and Project Director Joy Bhattacharya announced this at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
“Less than five cities have been selected, Kochi is one of them,” said Ceppi, who also revealed that Kochi was one of his personal favourites.
Two major inspections, by a FIFA panel, will be held next year in January and September before the six venues in the country which will host the league phase of the World Cup are confirmed. But Kochi is a strong favourite not only to host the league matches but also one or two knockout matches.
However it will depend on many factors, including the enthusiasm and crowd turnout at the venue, indicated Ceppi.
The four training grounds in Ernakulam — Maharaja’s Stadium, the Panampilly Nagar Sports Academy, Fort Kochi Veli Ground and Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) at Panangad — were announced as the training grounds.
The ‘training site agreement’ for the first three venues were handed over to Ceppi and agreement for the KUFOS ground is expected to be signed in a few days.
Apart from the work on the turf, dressing rooms and floodlights will be set up at all the training grounds.
Around Rs. 40 crore are likely to be spent on the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the main venue here, and between Rs. 3 to 4 crore on each training ground.
The visiting group, which included Head of Venue Inspections Roma Khanna, also held a ‘Kickoff Workshop’ — a series of meetings with the various stakeholders in Kochi.
Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany, Kerala Government’s Nodal Officer for the World Cup Mohammed Hanish, KFA President K.M.I. Mather were among those present at the event.