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Current Affairs for IAS Exams - 2 June 2015

Current Affairs for IAS Exams – 02 June 2015

:: National ::

Karnataka to move SC in Jaya case

The Karnataka Cabinet decided to file an appeal in the Supreme Court against the Karnataka High Court’s verdict acquitting AIADMK general secretary Jayalalithaa and three others in the disproportionate assets case.
The Cabinet also decided that senior advocate B.V. Acharya would be special counsel to argue the case before the apex court, while Mr. Sandesh J Chouta will assist him.
“It is inevitable for us to file an appeal before the Supreme Court as Karnataka has been declared as the sole prosecuting agency by the Supreme Court with respect to the disproportionate assets case. We have to execute our responsibility properly by filing the appeal,” Law Minister T.B. Jayachandra told reporters after the Cabinet meeting.
However, the Cabinet’s decision was taken only after “strong and repeated” advice from the Advocate-General of the State who had said that it would be a “travesty of justice” if Karnataka did not file an appeal. Legal experts had accused the State government of “delaying a decision.”
The Law Department, Mr. Acharya and the Advocate-General had all advised the State to file an appeal, Mr. Jayachandra said.

Only sought explanation, says IIT-M director

Following the controversy over the de-recognition by the IIT-Madras of the Ambedkar-Periyar Study Circle (APSC), the institute’s director Bhaskar Ramamurthi has said the management only sought an explanation from the students’ group.
Currently abroad, Mr. Ramamurthi in an email response to a query from retired bureaucrat M.G. Devasahayam, said: “We have not acted in response to the contents of the anonymous complaint. When we received it, we came to know that a meeting was conducted by the APSC and they had not observed some of the guidelines created by the Board of Students.” The email was shared with some mediapersons.
The Director said: “The communication to the APSC had asked them to explain why these had not been observed, so that their response could be considered by the Board of Students. The APSC seems to have understood the communication as a ban, which it is not.”
However, the IIT-M Dean’s e-mail to the APSC, dated May 22, states: “This is to inform you that because of the misuse of the privileges given to your study circle as an independent student body, your student body is de-recognised by the institute. You are welcome to come and explain your stand and actions.”
Stating that the IIT-M was trying to sort the issue out to the satisfaction of the students, Mr. Ramamurthi said: “I hope it will be resolved soon. I wish to reassure you that we have not acted in a mindless fashion.”

Vijai Sharma tipped to be new CIC

The senior-most Information Commissioner, Vijai Sharma, is tipped to be the new Chief Information Commissioner, while the former Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes, K.V. Chowdary, is understood to be in the running for the post of Central Vigilance Commissioner.
The names are understood to have been cleared at the meetings Prime Minister Narendra Modi had with the leader of the largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge.
While Finance Minister Arun Jaitley attended the meeting on the selection of Chief Information Commissioner (CIC), Home Minister Rajnath Singh attended the one on Central Vigilance Commissioner (CVC). Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh was present at the meetings.
Sources indicated that Mr. Sharma, 64, could be named as Chief Information Commissioner, a post that has been lying vacant for over nine months.
Mr. Chowdary, 61, is said to be the top contender for the other post, while the acting CVC, Rajiv, is also in the running, the sources said.
“The panels have met and their recommendations have been sent to the President’s office. All the names against the vacant posts have been sent to the President. I cannot tell you the names. The meeting was confidential,” Mr. Kharge said after the meeting.
Asked whether there was any disagreement on the names, he said there was no question of agreement or disagreement as of now.
A formal announcement will be made after President Pranab Mukherjee gives his assent. The President is away on a five-day visit abroad and will return.
Sources said there were 203 applicants for Chief Information Commissioner and 553 for Information Commissioners. Under the RTI Act, the CIC has one chief and 10 Information Commissioners.
In the CVC, the term of Central Vigilance Commissioner Pradeep Kumar ended on September 28 last year, while Vigilance Commissioner J.M. Garg completed his tenure on September 7.
The government received about 130 applications for the two vacant posts at the anti-corruption watchdog, they said.

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:: International ::

Bangladesh Liberation War award for Vajpayee

Bangladesh is set to honour former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for his outstanding support for the country’s independence from Pakistan in 1971 when he was a Lok Sabha member.
A Foreign Ministry spokesman familiar with the process said Bangladesh will hand over Vajpayee’s “Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War Award” to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to the country from June 6.
Mr. Vajpayee, who is unwell, could not visit Bangladesh to receive the honour.
“From the very beginning of the Liberation War (in 1971), he (Vajpayee) took a firm stand in favour of Bangladesh’s independence... as the then president of Bharatiya Jana Sangh and Lok Sabha member, he mobilised campaign at home and in international arena for the rights of Bangladesh’s people,” the official said.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also approved a proposal to honour the families of the members of Indian armed forces for sacrificing their lives for the cause of Bangladesh’s independence.

Families of IDPs to receive resettlement allowance

As many as 2,175 internally displaced Tamil families in Jaffna and Trincomalee districts are set to receive a financial assistance of Rs. 38,000 per family for resettlement with the Cabinet of the Sri Lankan government sanctioning 16 crore Lankan rupees.
Two hundred and four families in Sampur, Trincomalee district of the Eastern Province, and 1,971 families in Jaffna of the Northern Province will get the assistance initially.
Of the amount of assistance, Rs. 25,000 is set apart for resettlement allowance and the remaining Rs. 13,000 for purposes such as clearing land and purchase of tools. The payment will be made on verification of claims by district-level officials, says an official in the Ministry of Resettlement, Reconstruction and Hindu Religious Affairs.
Resettlement Minister D.M. Swaminathan, when asked for a reaction said he would not like to comment now.

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:: Business and Economy ::

Infy deletes dress code for employees

In a new employee engagement move, IT services major Infosys has decided to do away with the current dress-code, as part of the many employee engagement programme initiated by the current CEO Vishal Sikka.
As per the latest move from June 1, the company has allowed its employees to wear casual-wear for work.
The company had a mandatory dress code for its employees, which said, first two days of the week Infoscions wear formal dress with a tie followed by the next two days of smart casuals.
In an internal mail sent to all Infy employees, the company said “Over the last few months, we have been riding the wave of change, a change in the way we see things, the way we deliver solutions and the way we interact with each other and our customers.”
Further it said, “From June 1, you can flaunt your smart business casuals all week long! This was a change that many of you had voiced and requested on various platforms, so we are really excited that it is official now!”
Last year, Mr. Sikka has allowed employees to use Facebook and Twitter at in their personal devices while in office provide they complete their assigned work. Mr. Sikka has also relaxed the rule that said male employees needed to wear ties.
The company also said, casual dressing also comes with added incentive. Infy has lined up exciting activities and goodies for dressing smart.

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:: Science and Technology ::

DoT issues LoI to Airtel

Department of Telecom (DoT) has issued the letter of intent (LoI) to Bharti Airtel for spectrum it acquired in March auctions in 23 circles across various bands.
According to sources, so far Bharti Airtel has been allocated spectrum in a total of 10 circles — 7 circles in 2100 MHz band and 3 circles in 1800 MHz band. In the remaining 13 circles, airwaves will be allocated between December 2015 and April 2016.
“The letter of intent for spectrum in 900 MHz, 1800 MHz and 2100 MHz band acquired in March 2015 auctions has been issued to Airtel,” a source in DoT said.
The effective date for spectrum allocation in various bands range from May to April 2016, the source added.

:: Sports ::

Indian grapplers win four more golds

The Indian grapplers ended their campaign on a high in the International Wrestling tournament in Sassari City, Italy, bagging as many as nine medals, including eight gold in the men’s freestyle event.
Sonu (61kg), Somvir (86kg), Mausam Khatri (97kg) and Hitender (125kg) bagged a gold each in their respective weight categories.
Earlier, Amit Kumar (57kg), Yogeshwar Dutt (65kg), Praveen Rana (70kg) and Narsingh Yadav (74kg) had also clinched the gold.
Rajneesh was the lone Indian wrestler who returned with a bronze in 65kg freestyle division.

Three legends drafted into BCCI advisory panel

The new regime of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had set its priorities on assuming power and the first step in this direction was taken when Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman were drafted in as advisors on purely honorary basis.
This is the first in a series of steps the Board is set to initiate to give the administration a professional look, with the emphasis on involving former greats in different capacities.
The Board announced, “The President of the BCCI (Jagmohan Dalmiya) has nominated Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman as esteemed members of the Cricket Advisory Committee of the BCCI, with immediate effect.
These legendary cricketers have accepted the invitation to be part of this Committee, which will advise the BCCI on various progressive steps which are needed to be taken, that will enable Indian cricket to be better prepared for the challenges of the future.”
Their role, presently, is, “to provide guidance to our National team as we set out to enhance our performance on overseas engagements, provide direction to improve our talent pathway and take steps to strengthen domestic cricket to better prepare our players to handle the rigours of international cricket,” the statement said.
The Board has reportedly secured their “acceptance” for joining this “prestigious” committee but interestingly there is no clarity on the specific roles these cricketers would be playing. The three will meet the Board president and Secretary on June 6 where the assignment sheet will be drawn.
“I am happy to note that our eminent cricketers have come forward to lend their experience and insights as we work towards a common goal of taking Indian cricket to greater heights,” was Dalmiya’s observation.
“The Board must gain from the experience these greats have and take valuable inputs from them to take Indian cricket forward,” remarked Board Secretary Anurag Thakur.
He dismissed speculation that Rahul Dravid had declined an offer to assist the Board. “His experience is invaluable. We may have a different role for him.”
Ganguly, in the race for the Indian coach’s job, is weighing his presence in a committee which has Tendulkar and Laxman, two key players of the transition period when the team emerged from the scars of match-fixing scandal in 2000.
Ganguly was the leader of a fabulous bunch which included Rahul Dravid, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh and Zaheer Khan.
Ganguly is said to be all geared up. Being part of the advisory committee gives him an opportunity to be involved with the senior team.
One learns, if need be, the former India captain, with rich experience of playing and winning overseas, may get to travel with the team. A field job as he had been stressing with the Board.
For Tendulkar, the job of guiding the batsmen would be continuation of what he has been doing for many years. It will have an official sanction now. Laxman has been the unofficial coach of the lower half of India’s batting for years. He often would end up resuscitating the stuttering innings with just the bowlers for company. He is too happy to be involved with the BCCI in any capacity and looks at it as the ideal way of serving the game. “Their participation augurs well for the future of the game in our country and the noble intention to ‘give back to the game’, is commendable,” said Thakur.
The Board has not discarded the contribution of Ravi Shastri, who served as Team Director during India’s last tour to Australia. It is learnt that Shastri has been spoken to and the latter has set his terms, including a proper contract of minimum two years. Given his commercial engagements in the media, Shastri would be justified in asking the Board to protect his earnings. It would make sense to give Shastri time to deliver assuming he is given the task of shepherding Indian cricket.
The Board is unlikely to disturb the support staff of Sanjay Bangar, B. Arun and R. Sridhar for what the establishment believes their good work at the World Cup.
Sridhar especially gained praise for his work with the bowlers in improving their fielding.
The new coach, feel some senior observers, deserves a professional contract even as the Board does not expect any conflict among its star cricketers.