Prelims Tidbits 14 Sep 17

Petrol,diesel should come under GST,Oil Minister 

Summary: 

• Minister rules out intervention in daily pricing and non-committal on cutting taxes 
• Oil Minister also ruled out any government intervention to disrupt the daily revision in petrol and diesel prices despite the Rs 7.3 per litre spike since July, saying the reform will continue. 
• Saying that many States had drastically increased value-added tax, he said, “It is high time that the GST Council considered bringing the petroleum products in the ambit of GST.” 
• India relies on imports to meet 80% of its needs and so domestic fuel rates have been aligned to the movement of equivalent product prices in the international market since April 2002. 

Taxes which are not included in GST
Central	State
1.       Custom Duty	1.       Excise on liquor for humans
2.       Cess on Custom duty	2.       Stamp Duty on immovable property
3.       Tobacco product GST yes, but central excise also	3.       Electricity Duty & cess
4.       Petroleum products	4.       Petroleum products
	5.       Tax on items containing alcohol

 

 

 

               

 

India-Japan Annual Summit

1.Highlighting common ‘strategic interests,’ Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe,who arrived in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, said India-Japan ties will shape the Asia-Pacific region.
2. Mr. Abe will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday during the India-Japan annual summit, when both sides will firm up military and strategic ties.
3. Shinzo Abe promises peace in Indo-Pacific region
4. India & Japan will firm up strategic ties at summit today
5. Universal values:-“Both India and Japan place importance on the universal values and strategic interests that we commonly share.
6. Both countries are major Asian democracies and global powers

1st Indo-Russia All Armed Force Miltiary Excercise 

1. First tri-service military exercise to be held in October. 
2. It will also be India’s first bilateral military exercise with any country involving all three services. 
3. The Indra exercise is scheduled from October 19 to 29.

Payment of Gratuity Amendment Bill 2017

Context:

1. The Union Cabinet has given its approval for introduction of the Payment of

Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017 in the Parliament.

❖ Key facts:-

1. The move aims at providing social security to workmen after retirement,

whether it is because of rules of superannuation, or physical disablement or

impairment of vital parts of the body.

2. The Amendment will increase the maximum limit of gratuity of employees, in

the private sector and in Public Sector Undertakings/ Autonomous

Organizations under Government who are not covered under CCS (Pension)

Rules, at par with Central Government employees.

The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972:-

1. The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 applies to establishments employing 10 or

more persons.

2. The main purpose for enacting this Act is to provide social security to workmen

after retirement, whether retirement is a result of the rules of superannuation,

or physical disablement or impairment of vital part of the body.

3. Therefore, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an important social security

legislation to wage earning population in industries, factories and

establishments.

Chennai and Vladivostok amid China’s ambitious Maritime Silk Route (MSR)

❖Context:

1. Aiming to put in place a key maritime route connecting India with Northeast

Asia and Western Pacific region Delhi is contemplating to put in place a major

connectivity initiative — direct shipping link between Chennai and Vladivostok

amid China’s ambitious Maritime Silk Route (MSR) connecting Asia with Africa.

❖ Key facts:-

1. This proposed maritime route which could be transformed into a corridor could

juxtapose with Indo-Japan Pacific to Indian Ocean Corridor amid Beijing’s OBOR

of which MSR is a part – virtually connecting entire SE Asia through road,

shipping and rail links.

2. This shipping link would enable to transfer cargo between Chennai and

Vladivostok in 24 days in comparison to over 40 days currently taken to

transport goods from India to Far East Russia via Europe, according to experts

on the subject.

PIB

New NIRF Excercise 

National Institution Ranking Framework (NIRF) for the year 2018 has been announced by the centre with a change.

 The NIRF ranking was started in 2016, ranks higher educational institutions in India on the basis of a variety of parameters.

 The 2016 and 2017 NIRF lists reflected the ranks of only those institutions that had taken part in the exercise.

 But for 2018, instead of institutions choosing to take part in the exercise, they are being auto-registered through a large online database.

 The All-India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) portal of institutions available

with the Ministry of Human Resource Development will be used for auto registration of institutions.

 With this initiative, the number of institutions for NIRF is expected to raise three fold from previous year rankings.

 Last year ranking, among universities, Indian Institute of Science in Bangalore

was ranked first and Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi was second.

Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved setting up of Dairy Processing & Infrastructure Development Fund.

 It was announced in the union budget 2017-18, under National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD).

 The project will be implemented by National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) and National Dairy Development Cooperation(NCDC).

 NABARD will give loans to NDDB and NCDC to help the milk cooperatives.

 The project will focus on building an efficient milk procurement system, expansion of processing infrastructure for value added products for the milk unions and producer companies.

sOURCE:oNLY ias

Prelims Tidbits 13 Sep 17

Cooling off period in Hindu divorce can go :SC

Context:
1. Hindu couples who have mutually agreed to separate need not wait anymore
for the mandatory “cooling off” period of six months before divorce, the
Supreme Court held on Tuesday.
2. Once a couple moves a court of law for divorce under the Hindu Marriage Act,
they have to wait for a minimum period of six months.
3. Divorce by mutual consent was introduced as an amendment to the Hindu
Marriage Act in 1976.
4. The waiting period under Section 13B was mandated to prevent couples from
taking any hasty decision to end their marriage. Marriage is a sacrament in
Hinduism.
5. The waiting period was for them to have enough time to think through their
decision to separate.
6.Divorce was granted only after the ‘cooling off’ period and once the court found
there was no further chance for reconciliation. “The waiting period will only
prolong their agony,” a Bench of Justices A.K. Goel and U.U. Lalit observed in
their judgment.
7 . The court held that the waiting period should be done away with in cases where
there is no way to save the marriage and all efforts at mediation and

conciliation have run their course

HINDU MARRIAGE ACT 1955 

This Act, extends to whole of India, except state of Jammu and Kashmir, applies
also to Hindus domiciled in territories to which the Act extends and those who
are out side the said territories.

2. It applies to Hindus (in any of its forms or development) and also to Buddhists,
Sikhs, Jains and also those who are not Muslims, Christians, Parsis or Jews by
religion.

3. However, the Act does not apply to members of any scheduled tribes unless

Central Government by notification in the official Gazette otherwise directs

ROAD SAFETY BILL
Context 
1.Two Lok Sabha MPs from Rajasthan on Tuesday called for early enactment of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Bill, 2016,which is at present lying with the Select Committee of the
Rajya Sabha.
2.The Bill addresses the issues relating to road safety, citizen facilitation, strengthening public transport, automation and computerisation of procedures and imposes hefty penalties for violation of traffic rules.

Features of bill:
1- Aadhar required for driving licence applications.
2- Digitization of learners licence application and approval.
3- Unified vehicle register for India. 
4- Stricter punitive measures for bad road contracts and also huge increase in fines for drunk driving and over speeding. 
5- And, definition of terms like ‘cab aggregators’ to reduce ambiguity and prevent hasty litigation in future.

Vishwajeet Scheme

• Recently, Vishwajeet scheme was scrapped by Union Finance Minsitry.

• The scheme aimed to help top IITs to get top league in global rankings.

• It had the provision of funding to top seven IITs over a period of five years to upgrade infrastructure, hire foreign faculty and collaborate with foreign institutions.

• However, Union HRD ministry has introduced “Higher Education Finance Agency (HEFA)” to provide support to universities for creating the research infrastructure. 

Higher Education Financing Agency

• The Government has signed an agreement with Canara bank to set up non-banking financial company (NBFC) called the Higher Education Finance Agency (HEFA).
• It will be a joint venture between the HRD ministry and the bank.
• It is formed to give a major push for creation of high quality infrastructure in premier educational institutions.
• NBFC will rise funds from the market and also mobilize CSR funds from PSUs/Corporates and lend to government-run higher educational institutions for promoting research and innovation.
• The HEFA would finance the civil and lab infrastructure projects through a 10-year loan.
• HEFA will leverage the equity to rise up to Rs. 20,000 crore for the funding of world-class infrastructure at the IITs, IIMs, the National Institutes of Technology (NITs) and such other institutions.

PIB

U.N. Security Council steps up sanctions on defiant North Korea

Context:

1. The United Nations Security Council unanimously stepped up sanctions against

North Korea over the country’s sixth and most powerful nuclear test on Sept. 3,

imposing a ban on the country’s textile exports and capping imports of crude oil.

2. It was the ninth sanctions resolution unanimously adopted by the 15-member

council since 2006 over North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

❖ The new sanctions include:

1. Limits on imports of crude oil and oil products. China, Pyongyang’s main

economic ally, supplies most of North Korea’s crude oil.

2. A ban on exports of textiles, which is Pyongyang’s second-biggest export worth

more than $700m (£530m) a year.

3. Measures to limit North Koreans from working overseas, which the US estimates

would cut off $500m of tax revenue per year.

FoSCoRIS 

Context:

1. FSSAI launches online platform for food inspection, sampling

2. To bring in transparency in food safety inspection and sampling, food regulator

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has put in place a

nationwide online platform called ‘FoSCoRIS’ and has asked states to adopt this

system as it would help eliminate discrepancy and make food safety officers

accountable.

3. The web-based ‘FoSCoRIS’ system will help verify compliance of food safety and

hygiene standards by food businesses as per the government norms.

4.The new system will bring together all key stakeholders — food businesses, food

safety officers (FSOs), designated officers, state food safety commissioners — on

a nation-wide IT platform and data related to inspection, sampling and test

result data will be shared seamlessly by all the officials.

5. This system will give a clear picture to the FSSAI on the real-time basis and helps

eliminate any discrepancy, hence inspection is accountable. The system will

ease out the process of sample collection, make it transparent and traceable

and controls the quality of compliances.

Prelims Tidbits 12 sep 17

XAFECOPY Malware 

Ønew malware detected in India which steals money through victims' mobile phones. 
ØIts attacks are targeted in countries where mobile payment method is popular 
ØAround 40% of target of the malware has been detected in India
ØIt uses technology to bypass 'captcha' systems designed to protect users by confirming the action is being performed by a human
ØThis malware can delete incoming text messages to hide alerts from mobile network operators about stolen money.

Giant African Snail

ØThe infestation of giant African snail in the key coffee-growing areas of Karnataka has triggered concerns.
ØThe pest has surfaced over an estimated 1,500 acres this year.Ø It has led to higher cultivation costs, impacting earnings of coffee and pepper.
Ø The tender plants of coffee, pepper vines and papaya, among others, have been damaged by the pests in the regions.
Ø This snail species has been considered a significant cause in pest issues around the world.
ØInternationally, it is the most frequently occurring invasive species of snail.
Ø It is a nuisance pest for urban areas, and spreads human disease.

Prelims Tidbits 09 sep 17

Directorate General of Civil Aviation 

Context:
1. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is the Indian governmental
regulatory body for civil aviation under the Ministry of Civil Aviation. This
directorate investigates aviation accidents and incidents.

2. It is headquartered at New Delhi.

3. The Government of India is planning to replace the organisation with a Civil
Aviation Authority (CAA), modelled on the lines of the American Federal
Aviation Administration (FAA)

4. Its vision is Endeavour to promote safe and efficient Air Transportation through
regulation and proactive safety oversight system

Aranmua boat Race

Context:
1. The famous annual snake-boat regatta Uthrittathi Vallamkali was held in the
river Pampa at Aranmula with colour and gaiety on Friday afternoon.

❖ Aranmula Boat Race:-
1. The Aranmula Boat Race the oldest river boat fiesta in Kerala, the south western
State of India is held during Onam (August–September).
2. It takes place at Aranmula, near a Hindu temple dedicated to Lord Krishna and
Arjuna.
3. The snake boats move in pairs to the rhythm of full-throated singing and
shouting watched by an exciting crowd.
4. In 1972, snake boat races were also added to the program of the festival.
5. Thousands of people gather on the banks of the river Pampa to watch the snake

boat races.

Union and its terrtory (Part 1  & Scheule Ist )

Article 1 :- Name & Territory of the Union:
2. 1) India/Bharat: Union of States (Federation word not used)
3. 2) Territories of 1stSchedule
4. 3) Territory comprise: a) States b) UT c) May acquired

5. Article 2 :- Establishment of New States, Parliament may by law(can done by
Ordinary Bill) admit into Union

6. Article 3 :- a) Form new state from separating from any state b) Increase area of
state c) Decrease area state d) Alter boundaries of state

e) Alter Name (Article 2 External & Article 3 Internal modification)

FAME-India Scheme

Context:
1. The centre is considering the extension of FAME- India scheme to promote
electric and hybrid vehicles by another six months.

❖ FAME-India scheme:
1. FAME India – Faster Adoption and Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric vehicles
in India – is a part of the National Electric Mobility Mission Plan.

2. The scheme has four focus areas, technology development, demand creation,
pilot projects and charging infrastructure.

3. The scheme envisages Rs 795 crore support in the first two fiscals starting with
the current year.

4. It is being administered by the Heavy Industries Ministry.

Prelims Tidbits 11th sep 2017

Uttrakhand to Bring Special Heritage Law 

Context :
1.Uttarakhand plans to bring special heritage act to boost preservation
2. Seeking to preserve buildings and sites of historic, aesthetic, cultural or
environmental value, the Uttarakhand government is planning to bring a special
legislation to cover unprotected heritage in the state.
3. The Uttarakhand Heritage Act seeks to conserve landmarks such as the Almora
Jail, where Jawaharlal Nehru was imprisoned, the colonial era Raj Bhawan in
Nainital, historic precincts and trees, groves and natural fields of environmental
significance, an official said.
4. It aims at preserving and restoring heritage buildings and sites, which are not
protected either by the central law of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) or
any other existing government policies.
5. The draft (of the Heritage Act) is ready and it will soon be sent for the cabinet's
approval,"

Archaeological Survey of India

Context:
1. Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), under the Ministry of Culture, is the
premier organization for the archaeological researches and protection of the
cultural heritage of the nation.
2. It was established in 1861.
3. Maintenance of ancient monuments and archaeological sites and remains of
national importance is the prime concern of the ASI.
4. Besides it regulate all archaeological activities in the country as per the
provisions of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains
Act, 1958.
5. It also regulates Antiquities and Art Treasure Act, 1972

India-US in talks for C-17 deal

CONTEXT
1.India is in talks with the U.S. for buying another Boeing C-17 Globemaster
transport aircraft to be added to its fleet of 10.
2. Since induction in 2013, the aircraft has become the mainstay of India’s
humanitarian assistance and disaster relief efforts.
3. The aircraft, along with associated equipment, technical support and warranty,
is estimated to cost $366.2 million.
4. Boeing C-17 Globemaster III is a large military transport aircraft.
5. It was developed for the United States Air Force (USAF) from the 1980s to the

early 1990s by McDonnell Douglas.

Army to induct women into Military Police to probe gender crimes

Context:
1. The government has decided to recruit women jawans into the Army’s Corps of
Military Police (CMP) for investigating gender specific crimes. The proposal is
very significant as women will be inducted in the military’s non-officer cadre for
the first time, although they will be in a non-combat role.

❖ Key facts:
1. Women were required in the Corps of Military Police (CMP) to investigate
gender-specific allegations and crime.
2. The women will be inducted as junior commissioned officers and jawans.

❖ Background:-
1. The armed forces account for around 3,500 women officers, all of whom are in
non-combat roles. Women were allowed to join the military as officers outside

the medical stream for the first time in 1992

Corp of Military Police

Context:

Ø Corps of Military Police (CMP) is the military police of the Indian Army.

Ø CMP is trained to handle prisoners of war and to regulate traffic, as well as to

handle basic telecommunication equipment such as telephone exchanges.

Ø They can be identified by their red berets, white lanyards and belts, and they also

wear a black brassard with the letters MP imprinted in red.

Ø The term ‘red berets’ is synonymous with the personnel of the elite corps of

Military Police (CMP), since all ranks of this Corps adorn the exclusive red berets

along with white belts to distinguish themselves from other Corps of Army.

Ø Functions:

 The role of this Corps is primarily to assist Army formations in maintaining a high

standard of discipline of its troops, prevent breaches of various rules and

regulations and to assist in the preservation of high morale of all ranks of the

formation.

 

  Indian Astronomical Union

1.The International Astronomical Union (IAU) was founded in 1919.

2. Its mission is to promote and safeguard the science of astronomy in all its

aspects through international cooperation.

3. Its individual members — structured into Divisions, Commissions, and Working

Groups — are professional astronomers from all over the world, at the Ph.D.

level and beyond, who are active in professional research and education in

astronomy.

4. The IAU has 12625 members.

5. Among other activities, it acts as the internationally recognized authority for

assigning designations to celestial bodies (stars, planets, asteroids, etc.) and any

surface features on them

Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland

1. Nationalist Socialist Council of Nagaland is a Greater Naga Revolutionist, Naga

nationalist insurgent group operating mainly in Northeast India, with minor

activities in northwest Myanmar (Burma) until 2012.

2. The main goal of the organisation is to establish a sovereign Naga state,

"Nagalim",which would consist of all the areas inhabited by the Naga people in

Northeast India and Northwest Myanmar.

3. The NSCN (K) has been designated a terrorist organisation in India under the

Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967

North-East calling 

Ø The “North East Calling” event is being organised by the Ministry of

Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), Government of

India under its ‘Destination North East’ series of this year.

Ø The purpose of the event is to promote the art, culture, heritage,

cuisine, handicrafts, business and tourism of North East India.

Ø On the above occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh also launched ‘North East

Venture Fund’,which is a joint initiative of Ministry of DoNER and North Eastern

Development Finance Corporation Ltd.

Ø The objective of the fund is to promote entrepreneurship and Start

up in the North Eastern Region.

Ø It is the first dedicated Venture Fund for the region with a corpus

of Rs 100 crores.

Prelims Tidbits 08 Sep

US backs sale of fighter planes to India 

• The Trump administration has told the U.S. Congress that it “strongly supports” the sale of F-18 and F-16 fighter planes to India, built by American companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin respectively 
• Both companies have offered to assemble these planes in India, should New Delhi decide to buy them.

• The McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet is a twin-engine supersonic, all-weather carrier-capable multirole combatjet, designed as both a fighter and attack aircraft (hence the F/A designation). Designed by McDonnell Douglas(now Boeing) and Northrop
•  F/A-18 has a top speed of Mach 1.8
• It can carry a wide variety of bombs and missiles, including air-to-air and air-to-ground

Single Engine fighter acquisition for the IAF:
• F-16: Manufactured by Lockheed Martin, USA
• Gripen: Manufactured by Saab, Sweden
Twin Engine fighter acquisition for the Indian Navy:
• Rafale: Manufactured by Dassault Aviation, France
• F-18: Manufactured by Boeing, USA

Dhauladhar get snowfall

• The foothills of the Dhauladhar mountain ranges in Himachal Pradesh on Thursday received the season’s first snowfall, while rain lashed several other areas of the State.
• The Dhauladhar ranges received mild snowfall , bringing the day temperature in Dharamsala down to around 2 degrees Celsius.
• In Himachal Himalayas, The Greater Himalaya is represented by the Zaskar range, lesser Himalaya by Pir Panjal and Dhauladhar ranges and the Outer Himalaya by the Shiwalik range.

Central Information Commission:

• The Central Information Commission (CIC) is set up under the Right to Information Act and is the authorised/statutory body, established in 2005, under the (Minstry of personnel) Government of India.
• The Chief Information Commissioner heads the Central Information Commission. CIC hears appeals from information-seekers who have not been satisfied by the public authority, and also addresses major issues concerning the RTI Act.
• The Chief Information Commissioner and Information Commissioners are appointed by the President on the recommendation of a committee consisting of—

1. The Prime Minister, who shall be the Chairperson of the committee.
2. The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
3. A Union Cabinet Minister to be nominated by the Prime Minister.

• CIC is a high-powered independent body which inter alia looks into the complaints made to it and decides the appeals regarding the information sought by the public. 
• It entertains complaints and appeals pertaining to offices, financial institutions, public sector undertakings, etc., under the Central Government and the Union Territories. 
• The Commission consists of a Chief Information Commissioner and not more than ten Information Commissioners. It is not only an advisory but an action body as well.
• The Chief Information Commissioner and an Information Commissioner have a fixed tenure and are not eligible for reappointment 

FUNCTIONS:
Commission has suo-moto power to order an inquiry for violation of RTI Act. 
 While inquiring the Commission has the power of a civil court. 
 The Commission has the power to secure compliance from the public authority and power to impose penalty. 
 The Commission submits an annual report to the Central Government on the implementation of the provisions of this Act which is placed before Parliament.

 TRAI

•    The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India is the independent regulator of the telecommunications business in India. It was established by an act of Parliament, called the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India Act 1997, to regulate telecom services, including fixation/revision of tariffs for telecom services which were earlier vested in the Central Government.
• Central Government of India appoints a Chairperson and maximum six other members in Telecommunication Regulatory Authority of India. The Chair person must have worked as Supreme Court Judge or Chief Justice of a High Court. The TRAI members should have professional knowledge in telecommunication industry, finance, law, accountancy, and management.
• Any person with working experience for minimum 3 years as Secretary or additional Secretary or any equivalent post in the Central or State Governments in India are also eligible for posts of TRAI Chairperson and Members. TRAI authority can appoint officers and other employees as and when required for efficient functions of the authority.

Functions of TRAI
a)guide Govt on spectrum auction ,license fee,tenure etc.
b)Level playing field to Public v/s Private Players 
c)Provide service to service providers & protect consumers /decide service quality norms 
d)monitor service quality through "performance monitoring reports 

The TRAI Act was amended by an ordinance, effective from 24 January 2000, establishing a Telecommunications Dispute Settlement and Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) to take over the adjudicatory and disputes functions from TRAI.

INTERNATIONAL LITERACY DAY

The 51st International Literacy Day is being celebrated on 8th September, 2017 at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi and the theme announced by UNESCO is `Literacy in a digital world’.

The programme would include; felicitation to the dignitaries, distribution of Saakshar Bharat Awards to the best performing States, Districts, Gram Panchayats and NGOs.

What

1. The International Literacy Day is celebrated on 8th September every year throughout the world.  On this day, in the year 1965 the World Congress of Ministers of Education met in Tehran for the first time to discuss the programme of education at the international level.  
2. The UNESCO in its 14th Session in November, 1966, declared 8th September as the International Literacy Day.  Since then, ILD is celebrated on 8th September every year by most of the member countries. 
3. The key aspect of the observance of ILD is to mobilize public opinion in favour of struggle against illiteracy. 
4. ILD is a forum to disseminate information on literacy and raise the public awareness and the significance of literacy for individual and national development.
5. The National Literacy Mission Authority started celebrating International Literacy Day every year from 1988 onwards.  
6. The   eradication of illiteracy has been one of the major national concerns of the Govt. of India since independence. The occasion of ILD is used for raising public awareness to eradicate illiteracy and create environment in favour of adult education programmes.
7. From 1996 onwards some new elements were introduced to make the programme more attractive. 
8. In the year 1996 a ‘Mashal March’ was organized involving school students and literacy functionaries. In subsequent years, variety of activities were included as a part of ILD celebration.

Prelims Tidbits 07th July

• Article 256

As per article 256, States are expected to comply with the laws of parliament and not impede the exercise of the executive powers of the union. In this regard the union government can issue necessary directives to the states.

Why in the NEWS ?

The Supreme Court has given directions to states against Cow Vigilantees (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/attacks-by-cow-vigilantes-must-stop-sc-tells-states/article19633253.ece) 

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• Citizenship in India & Indian citizenship acts

Indian citizenship act, 1955

• Indian constitution provides single citizenship to all irrespective of the states a person belongs to
• Constitution simply describes classes of people deemed to be citizens of India as on 26th Jan 1950 & leaves entire law of citizenship to be regulated by parliamentary laws

• Parliament enacted Indian citizenship act, 1955 for acquisition & loss of Indian citizenship.

Acquisition of Indian Citizenship as per Citizenship act, 1955

1. Citizenship by birth: Every person born in India on or after January 26, 1950, shall be a citizen of India by birth.
2. Citizenship by descent: A person born outside India on or after January 26, 1950, shall be a citizen of India by descent if either of his parents is a citizen of India at the time of the person’s birth.
3. Citizenship by registration: A person can acquire Indian citizenship by registering themselves before the prescribed authority, e.g. persons of Indian origin who are ordinarily resident in India and have been so for five years immediately before making the application for registration; persons who are married to citizens of India.
4. Citizenship by naturalization:  A foreigner can acquire Indian citizenship, on application for naturalisation to the Government of India.
5. Citizenship by Incorporation of territory: If any new territory becomes a part of India, the Government of India shall specify the persons of that territory as citizens of India.

Termination of Indian Citizenship

1. Renunciation by Voluntary Act.
2. After acquiring the citizenship of another country.
3. Deprivation of citizenship by an order of the Government of India.

Why in NEWS ?

TRS MLA stripped of Citizenship(http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/trs-mla-stripped-of-indian-citizenship/article19631149.ece)

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 Middle East to India Deepwater Pipeline (MEIDP)  

It will connect the Gas Rich Gulf & Middle East regions to India, for the transportation of Natural Gas to secure India´s Energy Needs. 

Middle East to India Deepwater Pipeline (MEIDP), can be seen as an alternative to IPI(Iran-Pakistan-India) pipeline and TAPI(Turkemenistan-Afghanstan-Pakistan-India) project. The pipeline starts from Chabahar port and ends at Porbandar in South Gujarat of India. It passes through Sea of Omen to Omani coast.

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Uday Kotak Committee

• constituted by SEBI on Corporate Governance 

• The mandate of the committee is to make recommendations on:

1. Ensuring independence in spirit of independent directors and their active participation in functioning of the company.
2. The steps that are need to be taken for improving safeguards and disclosures pertaining to related party transactions.
3. To suggest measures for addressing issues faced by investors on voting and participation in general meetings
4. The steps required for improving effectiveness of board evaluation practices. Suggest on issues pertaining to disclosure and transparency.

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NATIONAL NUTRITION STRATEGY

• NITI Aayog calls renewed focus on Nutrition, launches the National Nutrition Strategy
• To address this and to bring nutrition to the centre-stage of the National Development Agenda, NITI Aayog has drafted the National Nutrition Strategy. Formulated through an extensive consultative process, the Strategy lays down a roadmap for effective action, among both implementers and practitioners, in achieving our nutrition objectives. 
• The nutrition strategy envisages a framework wherein the four proximate determinants of nutrition – uptake of health services, food, drinking water & sanitation and income & livelihoods – work together to accelerate decline of under nutrition in India. 
• Currently, there is also a lack of real time measurement of these determinants, which reduces our capacity for targeted action among the most vulnerable mothers and children. 
• The Nutrition Strategy framework envisages a Kuposhan Mukt Bharat - linked to Swachh Bharat and Swasth Bharat. The aim is to ensure that States create customized State/ District Action Plans to address local needs and challenges. This is especially relevant in view of enhanced resources available with the States, to prioritise focussed interventions with a greater role for panchayats and urban local bodies. 

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SURYAKIRAN 

• It is the Joint-military excercise of the Army of India and Nepal .
• Why in NEWS? -Recently both countries  began their joint military exercise in the western part of the Himalayan country, focusing on counter-terrorism and forest fighting operations. The exercise - Surya Kiran - was being participated by around 300 troops each side in Rupandehi district

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PM visits Ananda Temple, Bagan

• This is a Buddhist temple built in the early 12th century. It is the second largest temple in the entire Bagan region. 
• The Archaeological Survey of India has carried out structural conservation and chemical preservation work of this temple. Restoration work is being carried out after damage during the earthquake last year. 
• The Prime Minister offered prayers and made a Parikrama of the temple, during which ASI representatives explained the restoration process

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 The Central government has constituted a new task force led by NITI Aayog vice-chairman Rajiv Kumar to recommend measures to increase employment by promoting labour-intensive exports.

Terms of reference for the task force:

• To help create ‘well-paid, formal sector jobs’ include sector-specific policy interventions
• Measures to enhance services trade where there is high employment potential and identifying macro-economic factors holding back exports.
• Shall propose a comprehensive action plan to generate jobs as well as fix ‘under-employment’.
• Ascertain the effectiveness of existing export promotion schemes and logistical or trade facilitation issues.
• Also examine how trade data can be improved so that ‘it is reliable, globally comparable and timely, particularly with respect to trade in services.’

NITI Aayog statement on employment status in India: “While the Indian workforce has high aspirations, a majority of the workers are still employed in low-productivity, low-wage jobs in small, micro and own-account enterprises. An urgent and sustained expansion of the organized sector is essential to address India’s unemployment and under-employment issue,”

 

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