WBCS Current Affairs 12/09/2015 to 18/09/2015

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1. Union Government has launched the Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) for the welfare of people affected by mining related operations. The new scheme is meant to provide for the welfare of people and areas affected by mining related operations by using the funds collected by District Mineral Foundations (DMFs). About Pradhan Mantri Khanij Kshetra Kalyan Yojana (PMKKKY) Aim: Mitigate the adverse impacts due to mining operation on the health and environment. It also seeks to ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods for the affected people in mining areas. Objective: To implement various welfare and developmental projects in mining affected areas by complementing the existing ongoing schemes of State and Central Government; To mitigate and minimize the adverse impacts during and after mining on the health, environment and socio-economics of people in mining districts. To ensure long-term sustainable livelihoods to people in areas affected by mining. DMF spending: 60 per cent of the DMFs will be spent on high priority areas including health care, education, drinking water supply, sanitation and skill development of the affected people. Rest of the funds will be spent on infrastructure developmental projects such as making roads, railways, bridges, waterways projects, irrigation and alternative energy sources. About District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) The Mines and Minerals (Development & Regulation) Amendment Act, 2015 has mandated in setting up of District Mineral Foundations (DMFs) in all districts in the country affected by mining related operations. Union government also has notified the rates of contribution payable by miners to the DMFs along with launching PMKKKY. In case of mining leases granted before 12th January 2015 (on this date Amendment Act came into force) miners have to contribute 30 per cent of the royalty payable by them to DMFs. While, in case of mining leases executed after 12th January 2015, miners have to contribute 10 per cent of the royalty.

2. Earthquake of 8.3-magnitude on Richter scale has hit off Chile’s coast in Illapel, the capital of Choapa Province in central Coquimbo Region of Chile. US Geological Survey has noted its epicenter at a depth of 12.5 kilometers off Chile’s coast in Illapel. After the initial earthquake, two aftershock quakes of magnitudes 6.2 and 6.4 occurred west of Illapel.

3. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has granted in principle approval to 10 entities to set up small finance banks to provide basic banking services to small farmers and micro industries. The in-principle approval will enable these entities comply with the guidelines on Small Finance Banks and will be valid for 18 months. 10 entities are: Au Financiers (India) Ltd, Capital Local Area Bank, Disha Microfin Private Ltd, Equitas Holdings P Limited, ESAF Microfinance and Investments Private Ltd, Janalakshmi Financial Services Private Limited, RGVN (North East) Microfinance Limited, Suryoday Micro Finance Private Ltd, Ujjivan Financial Services Private Ltd and Utkarsh Micro Finance Private Ltd. As per RBI guidelines, the small finance banks can provide basic banking services in order to promote financial inclusion. It will include services like accepting deposits and lending to the unbanked sections such as micro business enterprises, small farmers, micro and small industries and unorganised sector entities.

4. Godavari River was formally interlinked with the Krishna River at Ibrahimpatnam near Vijayawada in Andhra Pradesh. Both rivers were interlinked after Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu inaugurated a pylon at Ibrahimpatnam. State government has named this historic occasion as ‘Krishna-Godavari Pavitra Sangamam’ meaning holy confluence in Telugu. Key facts The interlinking irrigation project located at Pattisam village in West Godavari district will pump Godavari River’s water into a canal 4 km under the Pattiseema Lift Irrigation Scheme. The pumped water will meet Krishna River at Ibrahimpatnam in Vijaywada district through 174 km long link canal. The stored water by interlinking rivers at Prakasam Barrage in Vijayawada will be diverted to irrigate paddy crop on 7 lakh acres in the Krishna, West and East Godavari districts, which are often called the rice bowl of the country. It will also be used to bring drought prone area Rayalaseema region (Anantpur, Kurnool and Kadapa districts) under irrigation through Srisailam reservoir as it faces acute shortage of water for irrigation from June to August every year. It will save around 80 thousand million cubic feet (TMCs) surplus water directly flowing from Godavari River into Bay of Bengal which will be used for irrigation purpose. The inter-linking of both rivers was brainchild idea of eminent engineer and former Union minister Kanuri Lakshmana Rao (He is considered as father of the Indian Irrigation System).

5. Nepal’s Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a new constitution after seven years of painstaking efforts and deliberations. The new constituent was passed by a 507-25 vote in the 601-seat Constituent Assembly (CA) after the voting and is due to come into effect on 20 September 2015. The lawmakers of CA from Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist–Leninist) and UCPN- Maoist supported the draft constitution. It should be noted that this is fifth constitution enacted by Nepal. The previous four constitutions were enacted in 1959, 1962, 1990 and 1999.

6. India and Cambodia have signed two Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) to boost bilateral cooperation in the field of Tourism and another related to umbrella projects under Mekong Ganga Cooperation initiative. These MoUs were signed in the presence of Indian Vice President M.Hamid Ansari and his Cambodian counterpart Prime Minister Hun Sen in Phnom Penh.
The second MoU for umbrella projects under Mekong Ganga Cooperation initiative covers five Quick Impact Projects including 2 projects in Health care. 1 project on Agriculture. 1 project in Women’s Empowerment through Information and Communications Technology (ICT). 50,000 US dollars grant for the Cambodia-India Entrepreneurship Development Centre (CIEDC) which was launched in February 2006. About Mekong–Ganga Cooperation (MGC) Established: in 2000 at Vientiane at the First MGC Ministerial Meeting. Members: It comprises six member countries viz. India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. The organization takes its name from two large rivers Ganga and Mekong flowing in the region. MGC emphasises on four areas of cooperation including tourism, education, culture and transportation linkage for solid foundation of trade and investment cooperation in the region.

7. Union Government has banned Naga rebel group National Socialist Council of Nagaland- Khaplang (NSCN-K) for five years. The organisation has been banned under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967. Decision in this regard was taken at Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. NSCN-K was has been banned following due legal process as it had unilaterally abrogated the ceasefire agreement with the Union government and perpetrated a string of terror attacks. In June 2015, it was involved in brutal killing of 18 soldiers of 6 Dogra Regiment in an ambush in Chandel district of Manipur.

8. Union cabinet has approved the creation of four posts of directors for four new National Institutes of Design (NIDs). Four posts of directors will be for four new NIDs located at Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh), Kurukshetra (Haryana), Jorhat (Assam) and Vijayawada (Andhra Pradesh). The decision was taken by the Union Cabinet meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in line with provision mentioned in National Design Policy, 2007.

9. The Union Cabinet has approved Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Rurban mission (SPMRM) for its ambitious bid to spur social, economic and infrastructure development in rural areas. In this regard, Union Government has earmarked over 5,000 crore rupees for the mission to develop 300 clusters over next three years across the country. Key facts Aim: SPMRM through development of rurban growth clusters aims at catalyzing overall regional growth. Twin objectives: It seeks to achieve of strengthening rural areas and de burdening the urban areas. Thus it seeks for balanced regional development and growth of the country by simultaneously benefiting the rural as well as urban areas of the country. The State Governments would identify the clusters which have latent potential for growth in accordance with the Framework for Implementation. This framework will be prepared by the Union Ministry of Rural Development. The clusters will be geographically contiguous Gram Panchayats with different population and follow administrative convergence units of Gram Panchayats. Plain and coastal areas must have population of about 25000 to 50000, desert areas, hilly or tribal areas must have 5000 to 15000. There would be a separate approach for selection of clusters in Tribal and Non-Tribal Districts. States government will prepare Integrated Cluster Action Plans for Rurban Clusters. It will be comprehensive plan documents detailing out the strategy for the cluster development.

10. Capital city of Zhejiang Province Hangzhou in East China has been chosen by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) to host the 2022 Asian Games. Hangzhou was the only candidate city for the 2022 Asian Games i.e. XIX edition of games. This decision was taken by the OCA at its 34th Congress held in Ashkhabad, Turkmenistan. It will be the third Chinese city to host the Asian games following Beijing in 1990 and Guangzhou in 2010. Hangzhou is best known for the West Lake, a placid and tourist attraction. It is also home base of Chinese Internet (ecommerce) giant Alibaba.

11. Union Cabinet has approved 150 days employment per household under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in the drought hit areas of the country. Decision in this regard was taken by Union Cabinet Meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi. Additional 50 days of unskilled manual work under the MGNREGA scheme will benefit people in drought-hit areas which are facing monsoon deficit affecting kharif crops and rural income. The move will enable state governments to provide additional wage employment to the rural poor from present 100 days in drought and natural calamities affected areas. Cabinet committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) also approved setting up of committee to propose Exim bank scheme in order to offer concessional finance to companies bidding for infra projects abroad.

12. Hungarian Government has declared a state of emergency in its two regions of Csongrad and Bacs-Kiskun to cope with the influx of refugees. It was declared by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. This move could pave the way to bringing in Hungary’s military to patrol the frontier bordering Serbia to stop illegal influx. This declaration comes after more than 10,000 people claiming to be Syrian and Afghan refugees were detained by Hungarian police for illegally crossing the border from Serbia. Refugee Crisis Hungary’s decision will effect in closure main route of the European Union (EU) border for the illegal refugee influx chain. But it is said that after closing of main route, refugees will divert their route from other countries. Being a central European nation, Hungary had emerged as epicenter of a refugee crisis which had erupted after an unprecedented number of people from North African (Libya, Eritrea, Sudan etc) and Middle Eastern (Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan etc) countries started relocating to European Countries for seeking refuge and better life conditions. So far in 2015, over 200,000 refugees have reached Hungary by walking across the southern border with Serbia by crossing Turkey, Greece and Mediterranean Sea. It should be noted that European countries are witnessing a greatest illegal refugee crisis since World War II and is considered as one of the worst humanitarian crisis. Earlier in September 2015, Germany had introduced border controls along its Austrian border to check refugee influx. It had led to Germany’s temporarily exit from the Schengen Agreement of EU which facilitates unhindered movement of people within the EU countries.

13. North Korea’s main nuclear facility at the Yongbyon complex has resumed normal operations after it was shut down in 2007. With this development it appears that North Korea is intensifying nuclear and ballistic missile development efforts in quality and quantity.

14. Indian-origin author Sunjeev Sahota has been short-listed for the prestigious 2015 Man Booker Prize for Fiction. Sunjeev Sahota’s novel The Year of the Runaways has been shortlisted which deals with the life experience of illegal immigrants from the Indian subcontinent in Britain. He is among the 6 authors who have been short-listed for this edition of prize by judges’ panel chaired by Michael Wood. Other short-listed authors are: Tom McCarthy (Britain), Anne Tyler (US), Marlon James (Jamaica), Hanya Yanagihara (US) and Chigozie Obioma (Nigeria). Sunjeev Sahota was born in 1981 and is a third-generation British-Indian. His debut novel Ours Are the Streets was published in 2011. The Year of the Runaways is his second novel which was published in June 2015.

15. A 15-year-old Indian-American girl Swetha Prabakaran has been selected by the White House for the prestigious Champions of Change award. She was chosen for the award in recognition of her efforts for empowering the community by imparting education of Internet coding through her non-profit Organisation. She is among eleven young women selected by the White House as Champions of Change. Swetha was born in Indianapolis to Indian parents who had immigrated from Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli in 1998. She is the founder and CEO of Everybody Code Now, a non-profit body working to empower the next generation of youth to become scientists, engineers and entrepreneurs.

16. Malcolm Turnbull has sworn-in as Australia’s new Prime Minister. He became the 29th Prime Minister of the country and was administered oath to the office by Governor-General Peter Cosgrove. Turnbull succeeded Tony Abbott after defeating him in internal party leadership ballot of the ruling centre-right Liberal Party.

17. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has been selected for the United Nations Champions of the Earth award. UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has chosen her for this prestigious award in recognition of her country’s initiatives to address climate change. UNEP has noted Bangladesh as one of the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In recent years natural disasters like cyclones, floods and droughts have intensified in the country due to climate change. The awards will be presented to her at a special ceremony to be held on September 27, 2015 at closing ceremony of United Nations Sustainable Development Summit 2015. Climate Change Mitigation Strategies of Bangladesh Bangladesh is first developing country to have a Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan which was prepared in 2009. It is also the first country to set up its own Climate Change Trust Fund which is supported by nearly 300 million US dollars from 2009-2012. In 2011, Bangladesh’s Constitution was amended in order to include a constitutional directive to the State to protect the environment and natural resources for current and future generations. Being serving Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina has demonstrated leadership and vision in both making climate change an issue of national priority and advocating for an ambitious global response.

18. Union Government has notified a 20 per cent provisional safeguard duty on certain categories of the steel products in order to protect the domestic steel sector with an immediate effect. The domestic steel industry is grappling with problems of low demand and facing competition from sudden surge in cheap imports. The notification on provisional safeguard duty was issued by Union Finance Ministry and it will continue for 200 days. This decision was taken based on earlier recommendation of the Directorate General of Safeguards (DGS) to impose the duty to protect interests of the domestic industry. DGS has recommended that the market share of domestic steel producers has been declining since 2014 and is likely to fall from 45 per cent to 37 per cent in 2015-16. It should be noted that safeguard duty is a World Trade Organisation (WTO)-compatible temporary measure to avert any damage to a country’s domestic industry from cheap imports and is brought in for a certain timeframe.

19. Gujarat has been placed to top position in World Bank’s first ever ranking of States on the ease of doing business in India. The World Bank report titled Assessment of State Implementation of Business Reforms was released in New Delhi under the aegis of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The inaugural edition of report reflected the ease of doing business in all Indian States at sub-regional level.

20. Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) on Supervisory Cooperation and Exchange of Supervisory Information.

21. Healthcare firm Practo has acquired has acquired hospital management software firm Insta Health Solutions for 12 million dollars. Insta Health Solutions was founded by former top Wipro executive Ramesh Emani to improve the efficiency of doctors and hospitals across 15 countries.

22. United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) has adopted text-based negotiations on UN Security Council (UNSC) reforms. It will set the stage for talks on the UNSC reforms issue at its 70th session. The draft text-based negotiations include questions on equitable representation and increase in the membership of UNSC. India has welcomed the UNGA’s decision to carry forward the text and described the development as significant and historic. Now it needs to be adopted by consensus by all UN Member States in order reflect of the broad support of the international community to move forward on this issue. India is looking forward to early commencement of text-based negotiations with a view to securing concrete outcomes during the upcoming 70th Session of the UNGA. It also has called upon all Member States of UN to constructively engage in this process so that the long pending reform of the UNSC can be achieved to give it more power to address the global challenges more effectively.

23. Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has recognized the Indian Kalarippayattu Federation (IKF) as Regional Sports Federation (RSF) with an immediate effect. This decision was taken with a view to promote and provide due acknowledgement and importance to sports having regional spread. This recognition also grants major role to the IKF for promotion and development of Kalarippayattu sport in India.

24. The Constituent Assembly of Nepal has overwhelmingly rejected the proposal to declare Nepal a Hindu state and reaffirmed to remain secular.

25. National Hindi Divas (हिंदी दिवस) is an annual literary-day celebrated on 14 September in Hindi speaking regions of India and other countries with Hindi speaking population. Significance: It seeks to propagate Hindi language and its cultural heritage and values. It also seeks to promote the Matra Bhasha i.e. mother tongue of India and show its importance as a language in the country and the world at large.

26. Kalamandalam Sathyabhama, doyen of classical dance form Mohiniyattam passed away in Palakkad district of Kerala. She was 77.

27. The 2015 US Open is a tennis tournament played on outdoor hard courts at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. It was the overall 135th edition of the US Open, the fourth and final Grand Slam event of the year 2015. Men’s Singles title Novak Djokovic of Serbia has won the US Open Men’s Singles title. In the summit clash he defeated Roger Federer of Switzerland by 6-4, 5-7, 6-4 and 6-4. It is Djokovic’s second US Open singles title and a 10th Grand Slam singles title. Women’s Singles Title Italy’s Flavia Pennetta has lifted the Women’s Singles trophy of the US Open. In the Open Era’s final match, 26th seed Pennetta defeated compatriot Roberta Vinci (Italy) in straight sets 7-6 and 6-2. With this victory she became the first Italian to win US Open champion and it was also her maiden US Grand Slam title. It was also her fourth and final Grand Slam of the season and she is only the second Italian woman to win a tennis major Grand Slam titles. Men’s Doubles Title French pair of Pierre-Hugues Herbert and Nicolas Mahut won the Men’s Doubles trophy of the US Open. In the final match, they defeated, Jamie Murray (United Kingdom) and John Peers (Australia) pair by 6–4, 6–4 score. Women’s Doubles Title Sania Mirza (India) and Martina Hingis (Switzerland) pair won the Switzerland women’s Doubles trophy of the US Open. In the final match, they defeated, Casey Dellacqua (Australia) and Yaroslava Shvedova (Kazakhstan) pair by 6–3, 6–3 score. It was their fourth title of this season after winning Wimbledon Championship, BNP Paribas Open and WTA Family Circle Cup doubles title earlier. Mixed Doubles Title Leander Paes (India) and Martina Hingis (Switzerland) pair won the Mixed Doubles trophy of Final Grand Slam of the US Open. In the summit clash 4th seeded Indo-Swiss pair defeated American pair of Bethanie Mattek-Sands and Sam Querrey 6-4, 3-6, 10-7. It was their third title of this season after winning Australian Open and Wimbledon Championship earlier.

28. Indian Wrestler Narsingh Pancham Yadav has secured quota for India in the 2016 Olympic Games. He qualified for Olympic Games after winning a bronze medal in the Men’s 74 kg Freestyle category at the World Wrestling Championship held at Las Vegas, United States. In the semifinal bout, Narsingh lost the match to Unurbat Purevjav of Mongolia, thus settling to the bronze medal.

29. Inaugural bilateral maritime exercise between India and Australia AUSINDEX15, commenced off coast of Visakhapatnam. The inaugural biennial exercise began with briefings and practical demonstrations ashore between Royal Australian Navy and Indian Navy before moving to sea.

30. Union Government has announced to extend e-Tourist Visa Scheme to 37 more countries in order to attract maximum foreign tourists in the country. It was announced by Secretary of Union Tourism Ministry Vinod Zuthsi while addressing a function of Indian Association of Tour Operators in New Delhi. With this extension, the total 150 countries will come under the ambit of e-Tourist Visa Scheme from present 113 countries. By August 2015, more than 22,000 tourists have used this scheme to visit India, compared to 2700 tourists in August, 2014. Background Union Government had launched e-Tourist Visa Scheme (as Tourist Visa on Arrival scheme) in November 2014. The scheme seeks to tap the vast tourism potential of India which still remains untapped and explored. Initially during the launch only 45 countries were brought under ambit of the scheme. But later in the phased manner, the scheme was extended to 113 countries.

31. Dr. G Satheesh Reddy, an eminent missile scientist of DRDO has been conferred with prestigious Silver Medal by London based Royal Aeronautical Society (RAeS). He was bestowed with this medal in recognition of his pioneering contributions as one of the leading navigation and avionics experts and for promoting Aerospace and Aeronautics in India. Under his leadership, India has developed state-of-the-art advanced avionics systems and sensors for key national strategic programmes and other defence applications.

32. Rajasthan has become the first state in the country to submit State Annual Action Plan under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT). State Government has submitted the action plan for approval by the Union Urban Development Ministry for financial year 2015-16.

33. JK Tyre has signed a binding agreement with Kesoram Industries to acquire its Haridwar unit. This agreement seeks to buy 100% equity in Kesoram Industries tyre unit in Uttarakhand in a decal value of 2,200 crore rupees. It should be noted that Kesoram sells its tyre under the Birla Tyres brand.

34. In recently concluded 2015 Singapore General Elections, People’s Action Party (PAP) led by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong has emerged victorious. PAP returned to power after scoring a landslide victory by winning an absolute majority of 83 seats in the 89 member Parliament. The opposition Workers’ Party won 6 seats. In this general election, PAP has secured 70 per cent of all valid votes up from 60.14 per cent in the 2011 general elections, when it had won 81 of the 87 constituency. With this victory, governing PAP has secured their 14th consecutive term in office since independence of city-state in 1965. 2015 Singapore General Elections was country’s first election after the death of its founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew.

35. As per a new study Antarctic Ocean has been absorbing increasing levels of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) , a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) over the past decade. The research study was published in journal Science and was undertaken by an international research team led by Nicolas Gruber, a professor at ETH Zurich. Key facts The study dispels fears that Antarctic Ocean’s (also known as the Southern Ocean) carbon sink might have begun to saturate due to increase in CO2 absorbing levels. Researchers have found that since the beginning of the millennium, Antarctic Ocean’s carbon sink has become much stronger, regaining its expected strength. Antarctic Ocean seasonally absorbs vast amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere and releases it back later in the year. The seas surrounding Antarctica on an annual average absorb significantly more CO2 than they release. These seas help to remove a large part of CO2 that human activities emit into the atmosphere. Thereby, slowing down the growth of this GHG in the atmosphere, lessening the rate of climate change. Antarctic Ocean accounts for 40 per cent of the global oceanic uptake of that man-made carbon dioxide.

36. Renowned water policy expert Ramaswamy R. Iyer passed away in New Delhi following a severe bout of viral fever. He was 86. He was instrumental in drafting India’s first National Water Policy in 1987. Ramaswamy R. Iyer was born in October 1929 in Thakkalai district of Tamil Nadu.

37. Scientists have discovered a new ancestral species in the human family tree dubbed as Homonaledi in South Africa. The new discovered species were named after the location where it was found i.e. naledi which means star in Sesotho, a local South African language. The species has been classified in the genus Homo to which modern humans belong. Discovery: It was made inside the Rising Star Cave in the Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site in South Africa by team of scientists led by Lee Berger, professor at University of the Witwatersrand. They have discovered a huge haul of fossilised bones of these species which is the largest fossil hominin found on the African continent. Characteristic of Homonaledi species These species are among the first of our kind (genus Homo) and could have lived in Africa up to 3 million years ago. They have a tiny brain, a primitive pelvis and shoulders. They have more progressive human like body shape of its skull and have relatively small modern-looking teeth, primitive fingers, modern-looking feet and characteristic long legs.