BENEVOLENT IAS ACADEMY, COIMBATORE (DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS)

BENEVOLENT IAS ACADEMY

#25, Sri Nagar, Hope College, Peelamedu (PO), Coimbatore – 641004.Ph: +91422-4521607, Cell: +91-9787731607, 9787701067/9787701068. Web:www.benevolentacademy.com.E-Mail:admin@benevolentacademy.com

Dated 09.12.2019

TODAY’S IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS

UPSC-IAS|IPS|IFS (PRELIMS + MAINS FOCUS)

IN NEWS The order came on a petition on the starvation death of a girl in Jharkhand in 2017

EXAM POINT OF VIEW: GS Prelims and GS-III – Economy (Agriculture and Food Management)

What is the dispute & Issues?

The Supreme court asked the States to produce proof on record that they have established a

mechanism for the poor to complain about inaccessibility to food under the Public Distribution

System (PDS) – because, Santoshi, died of starvation, - a citizen could not be denied food; it is a

constitutional right. Access to food and dignity of life is a fundamental right - this was the

situation even after the National Food Security Act came into effect in 2013 - Chief Justice of

India (CJI) Sharad Arvind Bobde - wanted to know from the States whether they had

established an internal grievance redress mechanism, mandated by the Act, to bring to light lack

of access to food and other complaints from the public.

So, the aspirants should get detailed facts about National Food Security Act – 2013 (Right to Food Act)

BENEVOLENT IAS ACADEMY, COIMBATORE (DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS)

The National Food Security Act, 2013 (NFSA 2013) converts into legal entitlements for existing food

security programmes of the Government of India. It includes the Midday Meal Scheme, Integrated Child

Development Services scheme and the Public Distribution System. Further, the NFSA 2013 recognizes

maternity entitlements. The Midday Meal Scheme and the Integrated Child Development Services

Scheme are universal in nature whereas the PDS will reach about two-thirds of the population (75% in

rural areas and 50% in urban areas).

Under the provisions of the bill, beneficiaries of the Public Distribution System (or, PDS) are entitled to 5

kilograms (11 lb) per person per month of cereals at the following prices:

Rice at ₹3 (4.3¢ US) per kg

Wheat at ₹2 (2.9¢ US) per kg

Coarse grains (millet) at ₹1 (1.4¢ US) per kg.

Pregnant women, lactating mothers, and certain categories of children are eligible for daily free cereals.

The bill has been highly controversial. It was introduced into India's parliament on 22 December 2011,

promulgated as a presidential ordinance on 5 July 2013, and enacted into law on 12 September 2013.

Odisha government implemented food security bill in 14 districts from 17 November 2015. Assam

government implemented Act on 24 December 2015.

A landmark legislation, the National Food Security Act (NFSA) aims at providing certain rights and entitlements to the underprivileged households in a hope to provide them with proper nourishment. Implemented on the 12th September 2013, the act comprises: Midday meal scheme Public Distribution System Integrated Child development services

The National Food Security Act was first rolled out as the National Food Security Ordinance

(NFSO) on July 5, 2013. Haryana became the first state to begin implementation on August 20, 2013

BENEVOLENT IAS ACADEMY, COIMBATORE (DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS)

Under the act,

the State Government shall identify—

(a) the households to be covered under the Antyodaya Anna Yojana;

(b) the remaining households as priority households to be covered under the Targeted Public Distribution System. Under section 13 (1) of the National Food Security Act, 2013, eldest woman who

is not less than eighteen years of age, in every eligible household, shall be head

of the household for the purpose of issue of ration cards. Every pregnant

woman and lactating mother shall be entitled to the meal, free of charge,

during pregnancy and six months after the childbirth, take-home ration, so as to

meet the nutritional standards and maternity benefit of not less than rupees six

thousand.

Now, we discuss about the previous year Question as follows,

(UPSC CSE 2018)

With reference to the provisions made under the National Food Security Act, 2013, consider the following statements:

1. The families coming under the category of ‘below poverty line (BPL)’ only are eligible to receive subsidised food grains.

2. The eldest woman in a household, of age 18 years or above, shall be the head of the household for the purpose of issuance of a ration card.

3. Pregnant women and lactating mothers are entitled to a ‘take-home ration’ of 1600 calories per day during pregnancy and for six months thereafter.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A. 1 and 2 B. 2 only C. 1 and 3 D. 3 only

BENEVOLENT IAS ACADEMY, COIMBATORE (DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS)

TODAY’S IMPORTANT CURRENT AFFAIRS

TNPSC|SSC|RRB|BANK

International Anti-Corruption Day is observed on 9 December.

The day aims to raise awareness about corruption and the

measures that can be taken to combat corruption.

Theme:

The theme for the year 2019 is United Against Corruption. The

theme was set by the UN to support the 2030 Agenda. UN

conducts the #UnitedAgainstCorruption.

#UnitedAgainstCorruption: The campaign focuses on corruption

as it is one of the biggest obstacles to achieve the SDG.

Corruption:

♦ Corruption is exercising the use of powers by government officials or their network contacts for

illegitimate private gain. The form of corruption includes patronage, influence peddling, graft, bribery,

nepotism, extortion, cronyism. Corruption can undermine social and economic development in all

societies. Sadly, no country, region or community is immune from corruption.

♦ UN reported that every year $1 trillion is paid in bribes. It also estimated $2.6 trillion is stolen annually

through corruption. The amount that is bribed in a year is the sum equivalent to more than 5% of the

global Gross domestic product (GDP).

Israeli students to launch self- made satellite from

Sriharikota on 11 December Three youngsters, Alon Abramovich, Meitav Assulin and Shmuel Aviv Levi, from an Israeli school, will travel to India to launch a satellite, Duchifat 3. The three 17 to 18 years old are the students of Sha'ar HaNegev High school in Israel's southern region. The satellite was designed and built by the students aboard PSLV C48 from ISRO's Sriharikota launch site. The satellite is to be launched on 11 December.

BENEVOLENT IAS ACADEMY, COIMBATORE (DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS)

Duchifat 3: ♦ Duchifat 3 is the third satellite made by the Israeli student. ♦ The satellite was jointly built by Herzliya Science Center and Sha’ar Hanegev High School students. ♦ It is an imaging satellite that will be used for ecological research of Earth from space. ♦ The size of the satellite is 10x10x30 cm and weighs 2.3 kg. ♦ The satellite will provide good help to agriculturists.

Ganga has become one of 10 cleanest rivers in the world

Minister of Jalshakti said that Ganga has become one of 10 cleanest rivers in the world among the major rivers category. The announcement was made by the Jalshakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat at the 4th India Water Impact Summit, 2019 in New Delhi.

Centre's measure:

♦ The Centre is committed to ensuring the cleanliness and uninterrupted flow of the Ganga. ♦ India has only 4% of the world's drinking water while 18% of the world's human and equivalent livestock population. ♦ The Integrated water management is need of the hour and people's participation is also required to make it successful. ♦ Ganga Aamantran Abhiyan, a massive river rafting expedition, was launched on 10 October 2019. ♦ Centre approved the establishment of the Clean Ganga Fund (CGF).

♦ Centre launched the NamamiGange Mission as an integrated mission. The mission aimed at the conservation and rejuvenation of Ganga and its tributaries with a comprehensive basin based approach. SabkaSaath, SabkaVikas, SabkaVishwas is the motto of the mission.

Exercise Hand-in-Hand-2019 to commence from 7 December 2019 Aim:

The main objective of the exercise is to enrich both

Indian and Chinese contingents from each other's

experience to combat counter-terrorism.

Theme:

The theme of the 14-day long training exercise

is Counter-terrorism. Under the theme, both the

countries will practice joint planning and conduct of

counter-terrorist operations in semi-urban terrain.

BENEVOLENT IAS ACADEMY, COIMBATORE (DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS)

Participants:

From the Chinese side, the Tibet Military command comprises 130 personal who will be

participating in the event.

Events:

♦ The exercise between the countries will be held at the company level. The training will be controlled

by the respective Battalion Headquarters.

♦ The events include discussions on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations.

♦ The exercise will have various lectures and drills associated with counter-terrorist handling and firing

with each other's weapons.