Current Affairs 28/09/2013 to 05/10/2013

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1.As per the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), India’s Current Account Deficit (CAD) for the first quarter ended June 2013 has widened to 4.9% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) compared to 4% in the same period of the previous financial year owing to a rise in imports and some decline in merchandise exports.
If we subtract the increase in gold imports of $7.3 billion in the first quarter of 2013-14 over the corresponding quarter of the preceding year the CAD works out to $14.5 billion, which means 3.2% of GDP.

2.A latest report by Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on global warming claims that it has evidence that since 1950 the atmosphere and oceans had warmed, and that scientists are now “95% certain” that humans are the “dominant cause”.
As per the IPCC report:
Warming patterns has been replicated across the climate system, as the amount of snow and ice has diminished, the mean global sea level has risen and concentration of greenhouse gases has increased.
In the absence of strong measures, the global warming is likely to exceed 2C by the end of this century. This is the level at which the consequences become even more catastrophic and which world governments have agreed to try to avoid.
It is urgent to put a price on carbon emissions that was high enough to force power companies and manufacturers to reduce their fossil-fuel use. IPCC is working on “mechanisms” through which the market could be used to reduce carbon emissions.
The world had already burned more than half of the one trillion tonnes of carbon permitted if it is to have a reasonable chance of limiting the temperature rise by 2C.
Rapid industrialisation in the developing world is increasing global emissions so fast that the world is on course to use up its entire carbon budget within 25 years.
The effects of climate change include rising sea levels, more and hotter heatwaves, and changes to rainfall meaning dry regions get less and wet areas receive more.

3.The External Affairs Ministry appointed former Foreign Secretary Ranjan Mathai as India’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Mr. Mathai (61) is a 1974-batch IFS officer who retired as Foreign Secretary this year. He will succeed Jaimini Bhagwati. Apart from serving as India’s Ambassador to France, he also had postings in Israel and Qatar among other places.

4.The Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has approved the Etihad Airways’ plan to buy a 24% stake in the Jet Airways as both carriers revised their deal to comply with conditions set by the markets regulator.
After studying the revised deal structure, SEBI was of the opinion that the Rs 2,058 crore transaction would not trigger a mandatory open offer for purchase of shares from public shareholders and Etihad would not be considered a promoter entity in Jet Airways. Jet promoter Naresh Goyal would eventually have a 51% stake in the company, Etihad 24% and the public shareholding of the remaining 25%.

5.The Vice President of India, Mr. Hamid Ansari released a commemorative postage stamp in the memory of Baba Jumdev.
Who was Baba Jumdev?
Baba Jumdev was a prominent spiritual leader and revered social activist who considered service of humanity as the highest form of religion.

6.The Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Bill, 2013 which seeks to replace the archaic land acquisition law dating back to 1894 has become law with President Pranab Mukherjee giving assent to it.

7.Iraq ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT), a treaty which provides for nuclear disarmament and bans nuclear weapons explosions at any place under the jurisdiction or control of the signatory. However, CTBT cannot enter into force until eight specific nations don’t ratify it.
What is CTBT?
Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) is an international accord which seeks to ban all nuclear explosions in all environments for military or civilian purposes. It was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on September 10, 1996, but it has not entered into force due to the non-ratification of eight specific states.

8.As per United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) report on the global Infant Mortality rate (IMR) declined from 61 deaths in 1990 to 37 deaths in 2011. Annual infant deaths decreased from 8.4 million in 1990 to 5 million in 2011.Although India has more IMR than the global average, it has shown a minor decline in IMR in 2012 compared to 2011. It decreased from 44 deaths for every 1000 live births in 2011 to 42 deaths for every 1000 live in 2012. Some findings of the report:
In India, Kerala has IMR of 12 which is least compared to other states.
The worst is Assam with IMR 55.
West Bengal also performed badly with IMR 32.
Some improvement was seen in case of Uttar Pradesh and Odisha whose IMR declined from 57 in 2011 to 53 in 2012 in both states.
Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu registered a one-point decrease in IMR.
Andhra Pradesh, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir improved their IMR by 2 points.
Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi and Karnataka reduced their IMR by 3 points.

9.Pakistani delegation of Indus Water Commission headed by Mirza Asif Baig visited India to participate in the 109th meeting of the Permanent Indus Commission held under Article VIII (5) of the Indus Water Treaty, 1960 in New Delhi. The team visited India to discuss India’s proposed project on Chenab River basin. India has planned to undertake 4 hydroelectric projects on the river: Ratle (850 MW), Miyar (120 MW), Lower Kalnai (48 MW) and Pakal Dul (1000 MW). Earlier, Pakistan had oppugned India’s design with regard to spillway, pondage and water intake.

10.India vanquished Malaysia to clinch Under-21 Sultan of Johor Cup hockey tournament. It was a maiden title victory for India. Below is the roll of honour for the tournament:
Champions: India
Runner Up: Malaysia
Third: Argentina
Most Outstanding Player: Mohd Fitri Saari (Malaysia)
Top Scorer: Mohd Shahril Saabah (Malaysia) – 8 goals
Most Promising Player: Harpreet Singh (India)
Best Goalkeeper: Lee Se Young (Korea)

11.Chief of the Odisha Cricket Association, Ranjib Biswal was appointment as the new Chairman of the IPL who succeeds Rajiv Shukla, who resigned at the end of his tenure.

12.Narayanaswamy Srinivasan has been re-elected as the president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for a third term.
However he will not take charge immediately because of a Supreme Court directive who had restrained Srinivasan from taking charge if elected in response to a petition by the Secretary of the Cricket Association of Bihar (CAB), who sought to restrain Srinivasan from getting re-elected.

13.The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare named former Indian cricket team captain Rahul Dravid as the brand ambassador for its National Tobacco Control Campaign. The national anti-tobacco control campaign pursues the goal of World Health Assembly which 30% relative reduction in tobacco use by 2025.

14.The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has banned digging of earth across India for making bricks and roads without prior environment clearance. It directed the Chief Secretaries of all states and union territories to ensure that its interim order is implemented. The tribunal issued notice to Uttar Pradesh seeking its response on a plea to direct the state government to stop extraction of earth for making bricks and roads, allegedly going on in violation of a Supreme Court decision and directions of the Environment Ministry to all states. Around a month back, the National Green Tribunal banned sand mining from river beds, without environment clearance, across the country.
About National Green Tribunal (NGT)
Established: October 18, 2010 under the National Green Tribunal Act 2010.

15.The Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, allotted a ‘Customized Pin Code’ to the Supreme Court of India. The Pin Code allotted to the Supreme Court is ‘110 201’.

16.In an effort to shield itself from supply disruptions, India is building strategic oil storage facility. The first such storage facility is expected to be commissioned in January 2014 at Vishakhapatnam. The facilities are being built by state owned firm India Strategic Petroleum Reserves Ltd (ISPRL).
India is building underground storages at Visakhapatnam in Andhra Pradesh and Mangalore and Padur in Karnataka to store about 5.33 million tonnes of crude oil. This is sufficient to meet nation’s oil requirement for 13-14 days.

17.Google has modified its Internet search engine to give better answers to the increasingly complex queries posed by Web surfers. The change has come as part of an update called “Hummingbird” that Google Inc. has gradually rolled out in the past month without revealing the modifications.

18.Indian social activist Anna Hazare has been honored with the inaugural Allard Prize for International Integrity conferred by the University of British Columbia’s Faculty of Law at a function held in Vancouver, Canada.
The Allard Prize is one of the world’s largest awards recognizing efforts to fight corruption and to promote human rights.

19.The Union government of India notified GAAR (General Anti Avoidance Rules).
It is aimed at curbing tax avoidance by investors routing their funds through tax havens. GAAR will come into force from April 1, 2016. It will be applicable to entities availing tax benefit of at least Rs. 3 crore. It will scrutinize Foreign Institutional Investors (FIIs) that have claimed benefits under any Double Tax Avoidance Agreement (DTAA).

20.Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel won a third term by in German elections. Her conservative Union bloc – the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) won 41.5% of vote, but just missed an absolute majority.

21.A plant that produces both tomatoes and potatoes was launched in the UK market. The plant named The TomTato has been developed by the horticultural mail order company Thompson & Morgan. TomTato has the capability of growing over 500 sweet cherry tomatoes and also the white potatoes.
TomTato is not a result of genetic engineering, but it has been created by a technique known as grafting.

22.Miss Philippines Megan Young was crowned Miss World 2013 at a pageant held at Indonesia’s resort island of Bali amid tight security due to threats of attack from Muslim conservatives. The pageant witnessed participation of 127 contestants from various countries.
Miss France Marine Lorphelin and Miss Ghana, Carranzar Naa Okailey Shooter were positioned second and third respectively. Miss India World Navneet Kaur Dhillon failed to make it to the Top 10 but won the title of Miss Multimedia.

23.In the wake of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi censuring the government, the Union Cabinet has decided to withdraw the controversial ordinance on convicted lawmakers, as well as the Bill that sought to amend the Representation of the People Act on which it was based.

24.Conferring the right to cast negative vote, the Supreme Court of India in a judgment held that citizens have the right to reject all candidates contesting an election. The apex court also directed the Election Commission of India to provide none of the above options at the end of the list of candidates contesting an election in a constituency. A bench headed by Chief Justice P Sathasivam held that negative voting would foster purity and vibrancy of elections .It would also encourage participation as people who are not content with the candidates in the contest would also participate to express their opinion by rejecting contestants.
Under the existing provisions of Section 49(O) of the Representation of People Act, if a voter does not want to cast his vote, he has to inform the presiding officer of his intention of not voting, who in turn would make an entry in the relevant rule book after taking the signature of the said elector. The problem with this provision is that it violates the concept of secret ballot.

25.Sri Srinivasan was sworn in as judge of the US Courts of Appeal for the District of Columbia Circuit. The court is the second most powerful court of the United States. Srinivasan has become the first Indian-American to be on the bench of the US Courts of Appeal for the District of Columbia Circuit. He was born in Chandigarh. His parents migrated to the United States in 1970s.

26.Randall Oliphant, Executive Chairman of the Canadian gold producer New Gold Inc., has been appointed as the Chairman of the World Gold Council (WGC) . He took over the charge from Ian Tefler.

27.Australia unveiled its most powerful super computer Raijin in Canberra. Raijin, is named after the Japanese God of thunder and rain. It development cost $ 45.2 million and will cost $ 10.85 million annually to operate. On the global scale, Raijin is considered the 27th most powerful computer. The supercomputer is capable of performing the same number of calculations in an hour that 7 billion people with calculators could perform in 20 years.

28.As per a survey conducted in various cities across the world, India’s financial capital Mumbai performed better than some of the big of the world and stood as the second most honest city in the world.

29.Chinese table tennis player Liu Shiwen clinched Women’s Table Tennis World Cup 2013 after beating teammate Wu Yang in the final play of the tournament held in Kobe, Japan. Liu had won the World Cup in Guangzhou in 2009 and in Huangshi one year back. It was her third world cup victory.

30.President Pranab Mukherjee has given his assent to the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Amendment Bill, 2013 which amends Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959.
What is Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959?
Section 3 of the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959, which has been periodically amended, lists certain offices of profit under the Government of India or the Government of any State, which do not disqualify the holders thereof for being chosen as, or for being, a Member of Parliament. Sub-clause (ii) of clause (ba) of section 3 of the Parliament (Prevention of Disqualification) Act, 1959, exempts the Chairperson of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes from such disqualification.

31.The Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh has approved the constitution of the Seventh Central Pay Commission (CPC). If we go by the average time of 2 years taken by a Pay Commission to submit its recommendations, it is expected that the recommendations of this Pay Commission will be implemented with effect from January 1, 2016.

32.Scientists have discovered the densest galaxy ever which they have named as M60-UCD1. The galaxy was discovered using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Follow-up observations were done with NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory and ground-based optical telescopes, including the Keck 10-metre telescope in Hawaii.

33.In a major blow to the banks and merchant establishments, the Reserve Bank of India has instructed banks to stop offering zero interest EMI (Equated Monthly Installment) schemes for the purchase of consumer goods in a bid to discourage them from offering such schemes or products.

34.The panel set up by the government under the chairmanship of the then Chief Economic Advisor Raghuram Rajan (now RBI governor) has suggested ending the ‘special category’ criteria for providing additional assistance to poorer states.
Why did the government set up the Rajan Committee?
The Union Government set up Raghuram Rajan Committee amid demands for “special category” status by Bihar and some other status to get additional financial assistance from the Centre. The Committee was tasked to suggest methods for identifying backwardness of states using a variety of criteria and also to recommend how the criteria may be reflected in future planning and devolution of funds from the central government to the states.
What are the key recommendations of the Rajan Committee?
The Rajan Committee has made two key recommendations for devolution of funds to states. They are:
a) A new methodology based on a ‘Multi Dimensional Index (MDI)’.
Depending on the scores of the 28 states on the MDI, they will be split into 3 categories:
Least developed
Less developed
Relatively developed
b) Each state should get a basic fixed allocation and an additional allocation depending on its development needs and development performance.
As per the Committee, these two recommendations, along with the allocation methodology, will effectively subsume what is now “Special Category” status.
According to the MDI scores:
Least Developed states: Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
Less Developed states: Manipur, West Bengal, Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram, Gujarat, Tripura, Karnataka, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.
Relatively Developed states: Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab, Maharashtra, Uttrakhand and Haryana.

35.AirAsia India has announced that it has received a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and would apply for Air Operating Permit to launch its operations. The next step for the company is to apply to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for its Scheduled Operator’s Permit (SOP or the flying permit), which is the final step before it can start its flight operations.Joint venture between the Malaysian airline AirAsia ( 49% stake), the Tatas (30%) and the Telstra Tradeplace owned by Arun Bhatia (21%).
Headquarters: Chennai
CEO: Mittu Chandilya, CEO

36.Finance Ministry has approved for Rs 5,500 crore against Rs 12,000 crore sought by the Department of Fertilisers under a Special Banking Arrangement (SBA) to pay part of the subsidy bill to the industry which is going through a liquidity crunch as the domestic urea subsidy funds have been exhausted.
The department has the total requirement of about Rs 30,000 crore which the department might seek under supplementary grant. Of this about Rs 12,000 crore is immediately required.
The government has slightly slashed the fertiliser subsidy to Rs 65,971.50 crore for the 2013-14 fiscal from the revised estimate of Rs 65,974 crore in 2012-13.

37.Sarah Outen (28), an adventurer from Britain who spent 150 days at sea to become the first woman to row solo from Japan to Alaska. She started from Choshi, Japan and sailed 3,750 miles (6,034 km) to reach Aleutian Island in Alaska. It is part of her plan for a global trek by an ocean rowing shell, kayak and bike.

38.In a latest development in the defence field, Russia and China held a joint anti-terrorism military exercise called Peace Mission 2013 in both the Shenyang military area command of the PLA (Peoples Liberation Army) and the Chebarkulsky range.

39.A team of researchers led by Professor Ajit Lalvani from the National Heart and Lung Institute at Imperial College London have discovered a new way of combating viral flu infections. He has developed a roadmap to develop universal flu vaccine.

40.Apollo Hospitals and health science firm Saarum Innovations have entered into a joint venture (JV) to set up the first commercial bio bank of India named as Sapien Biosciences. The joint venture envisages creation of a sophisticated bio bank as well as a personalised medicine company.
Sapien Biosciences consists of collections of high quality and systematically archived human samples which can be used for new clinical and research and development applications.
What is a Bio-bank?
A biobank is a type of biorepository that stores biological samples (usually human) for use in research. This storehouse maintains various kinds of bio-specimens which include purified DNA, plasma, saliva and blood. These samples are catalogued according to genetic as well as other kinds of traits like ethnicity, blood type, gender and age. These specimens and specimen related biological data are accessed by researchers of various organisations and firms for their research studies.
About Sapien Biosciences
First commercial bio bank of India
JV of Apollo Hospitals and Saarum Innovations
It will leverage the pathological and diagnostic data for developing state-of-the-art diagnostics as well as provide world class genetic risk assessment.
It will facilitate cell-related research assistance to various Pharmaceutical companies.

41.Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has given approval to the policy for auction by competitive bidding of the coal blocks which aims to ensure greater transparency and will pave the way for the government to auction explored blocks.