current affairs (29th july - 25th aug),2013

8/13/2019 Current Affairs (29th July - 25th Aug),2013

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CURRENT AFFAIRS, 29JULY – 25AUGUST, 2013

MISCELLANEOUS

Person/s in news

R AGHU R A M R A J A N

Chief Economic Adviser Raghu ram Govind Rajan has recently been appointed as Governor of the ReserveBank of India (RBI) for three years.

Z A FA R R ASHID F UTEHA LLY

An Indian naturalist and conservationist best known for his work as the secretary of the Bombay NaturalHistory Society and for the Newsletter for Birdwatchers, has passed away.

P.V.S I NDHU

India's latest badminton sensation P.V. Sindhu created history by becoming the first Indian woman to winthe singles bronze medal at the world championships held recently.

I BRA H IM B OUBACAR K EITA

Ibrahim Boubacar Keita is a Malian politician who was elected as President of Mali in August 2013.Previously he was Prime Minister of Mali from 1994 to 2000 and President of the National Assembly ofMali from 2002 to 2007.

S HA ILEND RA K UMAR M A N D A L

A NIT (National Institute of Technology) Patna faculty member Shailendra Kumar Mandal has bagged the

prestigious Fulbright-Nehru Fellowship1 sponsored by the United States-India Education Foundation

(USIEF). He is the first faculty member from the NIT Patna to win this fellowship.

ROBERTMUGABE

Veteran leader Robert Mugabe recently sworn in as Zimbabwe’s president for another five-year term.

AWARDS & PRIZES

A RJUNA A WARD 2

1 The Fulbright Programme is the flagship international educational exchange programme sponsored by the

US government and is designed to increase mutual understanding between the people of the United Statesand other countries.

2The Arjuna Awards were instituted in 1961 by the government of India to recognize outstanding

achievement in National sports. The award carries a cash prize of 500,000,a bronze statuette of Arjuna and a scroll.



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National Sports Awards are given every year to recognize and reward excellence in sports. Rajiv Gandhi

Khel Ratna Award is given for spectacular performance in the year under consideration; Arjuna Award is

given for consistently outstanding performance for three consecutive years preceding the year of award.

NATIONAL/ INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTIONS & AGENCIES WORLD BANK & ADB TO GIVE $ 400M

The World Bank and the Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently agreedto provide $ 400 million

for reconstruction and rehabilitation in the disaster‐hit areas in Uttarakhand. The money would be

spent in works in sectors including the housing, tourism, irrigation, agriculture, education, and

health sector.

NATIONAL/ INTERNATIONAL REPORTS & SURVEYS

S URVEY : A NAEM I A

The latest survey by sickle Cell Disease Project in Attappadi3found that over 20 per cent of the 33,120‐

strong tribal population is affected by the dreaded genetic disorder of sickle cell anemia. The latest survey

conducted in June 2013 by the Agali Community Health Centre and the five Public Health Centres found

1,253 tribal affected by sickle cell anemia (AS). Out of this 96 are acute cases (SS).

WHAT IS SICKLE CELL ANEMIA?

1. Sickle cell anemia is a genetic disorder of the blood. 2. Sickle cell gene carriers have one defective gene of sickle hemoglobin and do not have any

problem related to the disease.

3. The presence of Hb S can

cause

red

blood

cells

to

change

from

their

usual

biconcave

disc

shape

to a crescent or sickle shape during DE oxygenation.

4. Upon reoxygenation, the red cell initially resumes a normal configuration, but after repeated

cycles of “sickling and unsickling,” the erythrocyte is damaged permanently and hemolyzes.

This hemolysis is responsible for the anemia that is the hallmark of sickle cell disease.

5. Acute and chronic tissue injury can occur when blood flow through the vessels is obstructed

by the abnormally shaped red cells. Complications include painful episodes involving soft

tissues and bones, acute chest syndrome, priapism, cerebral vascular accidents, and both

splenic and renal dysfunction.

6. Common causes

of

mortality

among

children

with

sickle

cell

disease

include

bacterial

infections, splenic sequestration crisis and acute chest syndrome.

3 Attappadiis an extensive mountain valley at the headwaters of the Bhavani River nestled below

the Nilgiri Hills of the Western Ghats. Attappadi Reserve Forest is an informal buffer zone

bordering the Silent Valley National Park to the West.



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N AT IONAL F AM I LY H EA LTH S URVEY

ABOUT SURVEY

The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a

representative sample of households throughout India. Three rounds of the survey have been conductedsince the first survey in 1992-93. The survey provides state and national information for India on fertility,

infant and child mortality, the practice of family planning, maternal and child health, reproductive health,

nutrition, anaemia, utilization and quality of health and family planning services. Each successive round of

the NFHS has had two specific goals: a) to provide essential data on health and family welfare needed by the

Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and other agencies for policy and programme purposes, and b) to

provide information on important emerging health and family welfare issues. The Ministry of Health and

Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India, designated the International Institute for Population

Sciences (IIPS).

AGENCIES

Mumbai is the nodal agency, responsible for providing coordination and technical guidance for the survey.

IIPS collaborated with a number of Field Organizations (FO) for survey implementation. Each FO was

responsible for conducting survey activities in one or more states covered by the NFHS.

ASSISTANCE

Technical assistance for the NFHS was provided mainly by ORC Macro (USA) and other organizations on

specific issues. The funding for different rounds of NFHS has been provided by USAID, DFID, the Bill and

Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, UNFPA, and MOHFW, GOI.

RECENT UPDATE WITH REGARD TO THE SURVEY

Demand to include hysterectomies in National Family Health Survey

Health activists and civil society groups have demanded inclusion of hysterectomies4 as a component in the

fourth round of National Family Health Survey, and the data so generated be used for formulating guidelines

to conduct surgeries for removing the uterus.

JUDICIARY

R EG ISTRA TIO N O F B IRTHS AND D EA THS ( A MENDMENT ) B I LL, 2012

The Registration of Births and Deaths (Amendment) Bill, 2012 seeks to amend the Registration of Births

and Deaths Act, 1969 so as to provide for registration of marriages irrespective of religion professed and

practiced by the parties to the marriage. At present the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 provides

only for the regulation of registration of births and deaths and for matters connected therewith.

1. The Hon’ble Supreme Court in Seema Vs. Ashwani Kumar (AIR 2006 SC 1158) in its judgment dated

14-02-2006 has directed the Government that marriages of all persons who are citizens of India

belonging to various religious denominations should be made compulsorily registrable in their respective

4 Hysterectomy: most frequently performed major surgical procedure in gynaecology.



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States where such marriages are solemnised and, inter alia, directed that as and when the Central

Government enacts a comprehensive statute, the same shall be placed before that Court for scrutiny.

2. The Committee on Empowerment of Women (2006-2007) in its Twelfth Report (Fourteenth Lok Sabha)

on Plight of Indian Women Deserted by Non Resident Indian (NRI) Husbands presented to Lok Sabhaon the 13th August, 2007, has, inter alia, expressed the view that all marriages, irrespective of religion

should be compulsorily registered and desired that the Government to make registration of all marriages

mandatory, making the procedure simpler, affordable and accessible.

3. The 18th Law Commission of India in its 205th Report titled “Proposal to Amend the Prohibition of

Child Marriage Act, 2006 and other Allied Laws”,inter alia 5 , recommended that “registration of

marriages within a stipulated period, of all the communities, viz. Hindu, Muslim, Christian, etc., should

be made mandatory by the Government”. Further, the 18th Law Commission in its 211thReport titled

“Laws on Registration of Marriage and Divorce — A proposal for Consolidation and Reform”, has

recommended for Parliamentary legislation on compulsory registration of marriages which will bring

country-wide uniformity in the substantive law relating to registration and will be helpful in achieving

the desired goal.

4. The Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969, inter alia, provides for Registration establishments

consisting of Registrar-General, Chief Registrar and registration division, District Registrars and

Registrars. It also provides procedures for registration of births and deaths and for maintenance of

records and statistics. Further, by virtue of the powers conferred under section 30 of the aforesaid Act,

rules for compulsory registration of births and deaths have been framed by the State Governments and

Union territory Administrations. Therefore, it is proposed to amend the aforesaid Act suitably to include

registration of marriages as well within its scope so that the existing administrative machinery would

also be able to carry out registration of marriages in accordance with the specified procedures and be

able to maintain necessary records and statistics for registration of marriages also.

5. It is proposed to amend the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 to provide for compulsory

registration of marriages without affecting in any manner the State law making provisions for

compulsory registration of marriages in their respective States. For this purpose, suitable provisions are

incorporated in the Bill to avoid any duplication of registration of marriages under the proposed Central

law and the State law.

It is also proposed to provide in the Bill that the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1969 (after the

enactment of proposed amendments) shall not apply to any person who has registered his marriage under

any other law for the time being in force including a State Act providing for registration of marriages or

with any other authority under that law and nothing contained in this Act shall affect the validity of the

marriages registered under that law. Further, the parties to the marriage, whose marriage has been

registered under this Act, shall not be required to get their marriage registered under the Anand Marriage

Act, 1909 or any other law for the time being in force. Moreover, the registration of marriages

5 Inter alia: among other things.



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thereunder shall not affect any right recognised or acquired by any party to marriage under any law,

custom or usage.

6. The proposed Bill will provide for registration of marriages of all persons who are citizens of India

belonging to various religious denominations and be beneficial to women, as the registration certificatewould provide evidentiary value in matrimonial and maintenance cases and prevent unnecessary

harassment meted out to them. It will also provide evidentiary value in the matters of age of parties,

custody of children and the right of children born out of such marriages.

ECONOMY PERSPECTIVE

C URB ON O V ERSEA S I N V ESTM EN TS

Significance of Overseas Direct Investments for a country or an investor

• Joint Ventures/Wholly Owned Subsidiaries abroad promote economic co-operation betwixt India and

the host countries.

• They result in transfer of technology and skills, sharing the results of Research & Development,

access to the global market, promotion of the brand image, generation of employment and utilization

of raw materials available in India and the host country, increased exports of plant and machinery

and goods and services from India, foreign exchange earnings through dividend earnings, royalty,

technical know-how fee, etc.

• Since globalization of trade is a two-way process, integration of the Indian economy with the rest of

the world with all its attendant6 benefits is achieved through overseas investment. It is the reverse of

Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) i.e. Indian direct investment abroad.

Why did RBI put curb on ODI’s?

In a bid to protect the sliding rupee, the Apex Bank (RBI) tightened the limit for how much individuals and

companies can invest abroad without seeking permission and banned the import of gold coins and

medallions.

FURTHER SCOPE FOR COMPANIES AND INVESTORS IN THIS CONTEXT

Companies will now have to seek RBI’s permission if they want to invest any amount beyond their networth abroad. Investment in oil and gas exploration and those by navratna PSUs 7are the sole exception to

6 Attendant: closely connected with sth that has just been mentioned.

7 Navratna was the title given originally to 9 Public Sector Enterprises (PSEs) identified by the

Government of India in 1997 as p̋ublic sector companies that have comparative advantages ̋,



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the new rule. So far, companies were allowed to invest up to four times their net worth (which includes

reserves and profit). Indian firms had invested over $7 billion overseas in 2012-13.

Similarly, for individuals, the annual cap on automatic outflows8has been slashed from $200,000 (over Rs

1.20 crore at current exchange rate) to $75,000 (around Rs 45 lakh). Besides, there is now a ban on overseasreal estate purchases. At $1.2 billion during the last financial year, outflows under this route, known as the

Liberalized Remittance Scheme, were tiny fractions of money going out of the country.The move was meant

to signal that the government is serious about preventing a free fall of the rupee.

E URO - ZON E O UT O F CRISIS

Thetroubled Eurozone eventually recuperated after a huge setback that lasted for 3 ½ years. As per thefigures released by Eurostat, a stronger than expected performance by the single currency of two biggesteconomies – Germany and France – helped recover the Eurozone out of recession. Financial markets had

been expecting a rise in Eurozone’s GDP following the increase in industrial production report, but were

surprised by the fact that Germany grew by 0.7% in the second quarter and France by 0.5%.

H O W M ULTI - BRAND RETA IL HA S BEEN STREA M LINED ?

• Retail sales outlets may be set up in those states that have agreed or will agree in future to allow FDI inmulti-brand retail under this policy. The establishment of the retail sales outlets will be in compliance ofapplicable state laws/regulations, such as the Shops and Establishments Act etc.

• Retail sales outlets may be set up only in cities with a population of more than 10 lakh as per 2011Census and may also cover an area of 10 km around the municipal/urban agglomeration limits of suchcities.

• Retail locations will be restricted to conforming areas as per the master/zonal plans of the concernedcities and provision will be made for requisite facilities such as transport connectivity and parking.

• In states or union territories not having cities with population of more than 10 lakh as per 2011 Census,retail sales outlets may be set up in the cities of their choice, preferably the largest city and may alsocover an area of 10 km around the municipal/urban agglomeration limits of such cities. The locations ofsuch outlets will be restricted to conforming areas, as per the Master/Zonal Plans of the concerned citiesand provision will be made for requisite facilities such as transport connectivity and parking.

• At least 50 per cent of total FDI brought in shall be invested in ‘back-end infrastructure’ within threeyears of the induction of FDI, where ‘back-end infrastructure’ will include capital expenditure on allactivities, excluding that on front-end units. For instance, back-end infrastructure will include investmentmade towards processing, manufacturing, distribution, design improvement, quality control, packaging,

giving them greater autonomy to compete in the global market so as to s̋upport them in their

drive to become global giants.

PSU companies are divided into three categories:

• Maharatna

• Navratna

• Miniratna CPSEs

8 Outflows: the movement of a large amount of money, liquid, people, etc. out of a place.



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logistics, storage, ware-house, agriculture market produce infrastructure etc. Expenditure on land costand rentals, if any, will not be counted for purposes of backend infrastructure.

• A high-level group under the Minister of Consumer Affairs may be constituted to examine various issuesconcerning internal trade and make recommendations for internal trade reforms.

NEW COMPANIES BILL

• The new Companies Bill has received President's assent that will make it a law replacing the nearly six-decade old regulations that govern corporates in the country.

• The new Bill, providing for sweeping changes in the way companies operate and are regulated in thecountry, received Parliamentary approval recently. It would replace the Companies Act, 1956. Draftingof rules for the new legislation is in the process. The government plans to adopt a transparent andinteractive process to finalise a detailed set of rules to be adopted under the new Companies Bill.

• The new Bill requires companies to spend on social welfare activities, empowers investors against anyfrauds committed by promoters, encourages companies to have women directors, and seeks to bring ingreater transparency in corporate governance matters.

• It also provides about three dozen new definitions, including for terms such as frauds, promoters,

turnover, small companies, associate companies and employee stock options.

India is the only country in the world where the Corporate Social Responsibility9norms have been made part

of the statute to make 2% of profits above a certain threshold to be spent on CSR activities like education,health, drinking water etc.The CSR norms come at a time when there is a perception of corporate greed dueto several scams in the country and it is a form of giving back to the society.CSR activities would benefit thecompanies themselves as they can foster better relations with society in the local region.

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE

D ELA Y IN N A TIO NA L F O O D S ECURITY B I LL STILL PERSISTS

Notwithstanding the persisting delay in passage of the Food Security Bill in Parliament, the ambitious programme was launched with the promise that it would reach two-thirds of the country’s 125-crore population and provide them with grain at subsidised rates.

Amendmentsdecided by the government are removing provisions for cash transfer and the role ofcontractors and manufacturers in the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS).

The government will also legally secure the existing level of subsidised grain allocations for the States thatare already drawing a higher level. The Ministry of Women and Child Development was pushing for thecontroversial clause.

The government will now move an official amendment removing the Schedule where nutritional standards,mandating energy-dense fortified foods, were set for the ICDS, and instead mandate hot-cooked food for

beneficiaries. The provision that allowed the States to give cash in lieu of grains if they so wished will also

be removed.

The third key amendment will give the States one year to implement the Bill. In accordance withGovernment sources this was done keeping in view the slow pace of finalising the Socio-Economic Caste

9 Corporate Social Responsibility: is a form of corporate self-regulation integrated into a business model.

CSR policy functions as a built-in, self-regulating mechanism whereby a business monitors and ensures itsactive compliance with the spirit of the law, ethical standards, and international norms. In nutshell it is acommitment of business to maintain sustainable development.



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Census (SECC), which would throw up a new list of beneficiaries. The delay in the roll out of the SECC,coupled with the re-imposition of a centrally mandated State-wise cap on number of beneficiaries, hasthreatened to import some of the foiblesof the existing targeted PDS into the proposed NFSB as well.

INTERNATIONAL

PERSPECTIVE

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS I NDO - I RA N

Iran has detained Indiaʹs largest ocean liner Shipping Corporation (SCI)ʹs vessel carrying crude

from Iraq following which government is engaged in hectic diplomatic parleys10with the Iranians

to secure release of the tanker. The tanker, MT Desh Shanti, was detained while carrying oil in the

Persian Gulf, after which India, through its mission in Tehran, is engaged in hectic negotiations for

the recent past.

WHAT COULD BE THE REASON/ S BEHIND THE DETENTION OF INDIAN SHIP?

• Environmentalconcerns have been considered as one of the reasons. Tehran authorities conveyed toIndia that the ship was polluting Iranian waters, which appears to be a flimsy

11 reason.

• India has cut crude imports from Iran. The cut, in fact, helped India -- along with China and SouthKorea -- win a waiver from the US allowing it to continue to import crude from Iran.

For India, it is not far-fetched to draw the conclusion that Tehran is annoyed with India's rising crude

imports from Iraq and that the seizure of the ship may be a way of showing its displeasure . But this

doesn't just have consequences for Indo-Iran ties but also internationally, as it will raise questions about

what Tehran intends to do in the Persian Gulf where it has even threatened use of force in the past to reveal

its influence in the oil trade.Iranian authorities are known to have recently threatened that Tehran will blockthe crucial Strait of Hormuz oil trade route in the face of sanctions imposed by western countries. The

Strait of Hormuz links the Gulf with the Indian Ocean, facilitating transport of oil from major oil producing

countries like Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar.

DEFENCE

INS A R IHANT

Joint defence exercises being planned by the Indian and Chinese militaries later this year would send a positive signal to ease recent border tensions and build trust between them following recurring troopincursions.

The "Hand-in-Hand" drills, though not on a large scale, send a positive signal as they help ease bordertensions between the two neighbours along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).Both sides are scheduled to conduct the exercises from November 4 to 14 in the Chengdu MilitaryCommand area in China.The exercises will involve about 150 troops from both sides, mostly focussing on anti-terrorism drills.

10 Parley: A discussion between enemies or people who disagree, in order to try and find a way of solving a

problem. 2. To discuss sth with sb in order to solve a disagreement. 11

Flimsy: difficult to believe.



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This is the third time the drills would be held betwixt two of the world's largest militaries.

The upcoming exercises are a good opportunity for the two militaries to further dispel suspicions.

Joint exercises are the most important among all levels and forms of military cooperation. The resumptionsignifies an incredibly fast recovery of military ties between China and India. The two sides have bothshown strong intentions to boost mutual trust by reopening dialogue and engaging in high-level exchangesafter frictions. The two governments launched a mechanism for consultation on border issues yester year.But ties are still occasionally strained by territorial issues. About India commissioning its first nuclearsubmarine, the INS Arihant, and the indigenously-built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant, there is an assumptionthat Sino-Indian relations should be centred on cooperation instead of an arms race. Developing a stable and

positive military relationship is based on joint efforts from both sides.

INS V I KRANT

The launch of India's INS Vikrant and Japan's helicopter carrier serve as a warning for China. Manycountries are supporting India in developing advanced weaponry, not only for profit but also to balance

China's power. While China's rise is mainly an economic one, India's emergence is more prominent in themilitary sphere. The so-called external threats may serve as an excuse for engaging in military expansion aswell as corruption, which has been endemic in India's scandal-ridden weaponry development in recent years.

INS S INDHURAKSHAK

The Indian Navy suffered a major setback as INS Sindhurakshak — a Russian-made kilo-class submarine berthed at the naval dockyard — partially sank after a series of explosions.

SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

G SA T- 7

Indiaʹs first exclusive defence satellite GSAT‐7 was successfully launched by European space consortium Arianespaceʹs Ariane 5 rocket from Kourou spaceport in French Guiana recently,

giving a major push to the countryʹs maritime security.Indian Navy would be the user of the

multi‐ band home‐ built communication spacecraft, expected to be operational by September end.



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current affairs (29th july - 25th aug),2013

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