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Daily Current Affairs 21 December 2017
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
India’s first National Rail and
Transportation University at Vadodara
Context: The Union Cabinet has approved the Ministry of Railways’
transformative initiative to set up the first ever National Rail and Transport
University (NRTU) in Vadodara to skill its human resources and build
capability. This innovative idea will be a catalyst for transformation of rail
and transport sector towards New India.
Key facts:
§ The University will be set up as a Deemed to Be University under de
novo category as per the UGC [Institutions Deemed to be Universities]
Regulations, 2016.
§ A not-for-profit Company under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013
will be created by the Ministry of Railways which shall be the Managing Company
of the proposed university.
§ The company will provide financial and infrastructural support to the
university, and appoint Chancellor and Pro-Chancellor of the university.
§ Board of Management, comprising professionals and academics, shall be
independent of the Managing Company with full autonomy to perform its academic
and administrative responsibilities.
§ The funding of the new University/Institute is to entirely come from
Ministry of Railways.
Significance of this move:
The university plans to use latest pedagogy and
technology applications (satellite based tracking, Radio Frequency
Identification and Artificial Intelligence) to improve on-the-job performance
and productivity. Close collaboration with the Indian Railways will ensure that
the stakeholders have access to Railways’ facilities, which will work as ‘live
labs’ and they will be able to work on solving real life problems. It will have
‘Centres of Excellence’ showcasing high-end, niche technology like High Speed
Train.
Development processes and the development industry the role of NGOs, SHGs, various groups and associations, donors, charities, institutional and other stakeholders.
Strive Project
Context: A
Financing Agreement for IDA Credit of USD 125 million (equivalent) for the
“Skills Strengthening for Industrial Value Enhancement Operation (STRIVE)
Project” was recently signed by the Government of India with the World Bank.
The Objective of the operation is to improve access to quality and market-driven vocational
training provided in it is and apprenticeships.
About the Skill Strengthening for Industrial
Value Enhancement (STRIVE) project:
What is it? STRIVE is an outcome focused scheme marking shift in government’s
implementation strategy in vocational education and training from inputs to
results. STRIVE will focus to improve on the quality and the market relevance
of vocational training provided in ITIs and strengthen the apprenticeship
programme through industry-cluster approach.
The result areas for the
project include Improved Performance of Industrial Training Institutes;
Increased Capacities of State Governments to Support Industrial Training
Institutes and Apprenticeship Training; Improved Teaching and Learning; and
Improved and Broadened Apprenticeship Training.
Government policies and interventions for
development in various sectors and issues arising out of their design and
implementation.
Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill
Context: Lok
Sabha has passed the Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill. The Bill amends the
regulations governing compensation payable for acquisition of immovable
property by the Centre for defence and security purposes.
Highlights of the Bill:
§ The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment)
Bill 2017 amends the original 1952 Act to allow the Centre to reissue the
acquisition notice in case the property’s owner wants to be given a hearing.
§ As per the amendment, the compensation rates that will be payable will
be fixed at the date of publication of the first notice in addition to an
interest.
§ The amended bill provides that the government need not pay compensation
at the current market rate as is applicable on the date of issuing the fresh
notice.
§ The amended bill is aimed at addressing cases where the property owner
is able, after prolonged litigation, to get the acquisition notice quashed in
the court so as to be given a hearing.
Background:
The Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable
Property Act empowers the central government to requisition any immovable
property and also to acquire them under certain specified conditions. The Act
came into force in March 1952.
Bilateral, regional and global groupings and
agreements involving India and/or affecting India’s interests
Kimberley Process
Context: The KP
Plenary Session is being held at Brisbane, Australia. In one of the landmark
decisions favoring India’s leading position in Diamonds globally, India was
appointed as the Kimberly Process (KP) Vice Chair for 2018 & Chair for 2019
in the last plenary held in Dubai in November, 2016. The EU will be KP Chair
for 2018.
About Kimberley process:
What is the
Kimberley Process?
The Kimberley Process is an international
certification scheme that regulates trade in rough diamonds. It aims to prevent
the flow of conflict diamonds, while helping to protect legitimate trade in
rough diamonds. The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS) outlines the
rules that govern the trade in rough diamonds. The KPCS has developed a set of
minimum requirements that each participant must meet. The KP is not, strictly
speaking, an international organisation: it has no permanent offices or
permanent staff. It relies on the contributions – under the principle of
‘burden-sharing’ – of participants, supported by industry and civil society
observers. Neither can the KP be considered as an international agreement from
a legal perspective, as it is implemented through the national legislations of
its participants.
What are Conflict
diamonds? “Conflict Diamonds” means rough diamonds
used by rebel movements or their allies to finance conflict aimed at
undermining legitimate governments. It is also described in the United
Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions.
Who is involved?
The Kimberley Process (KP) is open to all countries
that are willing and able to implement its requirements. The KP has 54
participants, representing 81 countries, with the European Union and its Member
States counting as a single participant. KP members account for approximately
99.8% of the global production of rough diamonds. In addition, the World
Diamond Council, representing the international diamond industry, and civil
society organisations, such as Partnership-Africa Canada, participate in the KP
and have played a major role since its outset.
How does the
Kimberley Process work?
The Kimberley Process Certification Scheme (KPCS)
imposes extensive requirements on its members to enable them to certify
shipments of rough diamonds as ‘conflict-free’ and prevent conflict diamonds from
entering the legitimate trade. Under the terms of the KPCS, participating
states must meet ‘minimum requirements’ and must put in place national
legislation and institutions; export, import and internal controls; and also
commit to transparency and the exchange of statistical data. Participants can
only legally trade with other participants who have also met the minimum
requirements of the scheme, and international shipments of rough diamonds must
be accompanied by a KP certificate guaranteeing that they are conflict-free.
Effects of liberalization on the economy, changes
in industrial policy and their effects on industrial growth.
Scheme for Capacity Building in
Textiles Sector (SCBTS)
Context: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has given its approval for a
new skill development scheme covering the entire value chain of the textile
sector excluding Spinning & Weaving in organized Sector, titled “Scheme for
Capacity Building in Textile Sector (SCBTS)” from 2017-18 to 2019-20 with an
outlay of Rs. 1300 crore.
Key facts:
§ The scheme will have National Skill Qualification Framework (NSQF)
compliant training courses with funding norms as per the Common Norms notified
by Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE).
§ The scheme will be implemented for the benefit of all sections of the
society across the country including rural, remote, LWE affected, North East,
J&K by imparting skills in the identified job roles. Preference will be
given to various social groups, SC, ST, differently abled, minorities and other
vulnerable groups.
§ The skilling programmes would be implemented through textile Industry
/Units, reputed training institutions and Institutions of Ministry of Textiles
/State Governments having placement tie-ups with textile industry/units.
§ The objectives of the scheme are to provide demand driven, placement
oriented skilling programme to incentivize the efforts of the industry in
creating jobs in the organized textile and related sectors; to promote skilling
and skill up-gradation in the traditional sectors through respective Sectoral
Divisions/organizations of Ministry of Textiles; and to provide livelihood to
all sections of the society across the country.
Infrastructure: Energy, Ports, Roads, Airports,
Railways etc.
Pare Hydroelectric Plant
Context: A Loan agreement and a Guarantee
agreement for providing additional funding of Euro 20 million has been signed
for the project ‘Pare Hydroelectric Plant’ under Indo-German Bilateral
Development Cooperation.
About the Pare Hydroelectric project:
What is it? The
Pare Hydro Electric Project (2 x 55 MW) is planned as
a run-of-the-river scheme on the Dikrong River in the Papumpare District of
Arunachal Pradesh.
The broad objective of the project is generation of hydroelectric power for socio-economic
development of the North Eastern Region.
The purpose of the project is efficient and ecological friendly generation of electric
power. This will contribute to the economic efficient generation of power,
growth in the North East region and protection of global climate.
Facts
for Prelims:
The Dikrong is one of the major north bank
tributaries of the river Brahmaputra, which originates from the lesser
Himalayan ranges in Arunachal Pradesh. The total length of river Dikrong is 145
kilometer. It flows through the hilly region of Arunachal Pradesh for a
distance of about 113 kilometer and remaining 32 kilometers it flows through
the plains of Assam.
EDITORIAL: Reconsider
the Rules
Context:
Earlier this year, a judgment by the Uttarakhand
High Court, stating that Ganga and Yamuna rivers are “living entities”,
captured the national imagination. It is worth noting that wetlands, the other
major water-based ecosystem apart from rivers, are at a moment of policy
transition in the country.
This year, a new legal framework for wetlands was
passed, the Wetland (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017, replacing the
earlier Rules of 2010 which prohibit a range of activities in wetlands like
setting up and expansion of industries, waste dumping and discharge of
effluents.
Also this year, the Supreme Court passed an order
directing States to identify wetlands in the country within a stipulated
timeframe.
Wetland:
Wetland is transitional land between terrestrial
and aquatic eco-systems where water table is usually at or near surface or it
may be land covered by shallow water. It supports rich biodiversity and
provides wide range of ecosystem services such as water storage, water
purification, flood mitigation, erosion control, aquifer recharge etc.
It means an area of marsh, fen, peat land or water;
whether natural or artificial, permanent or temporary, with water that is
static or flowing, fresh, brackish or salt, including areas of marine water the
depth of which at low tide does not exceed six meters, but does not include
river channels, paddy fields, human-made water bodies/tanks specifically
constructed for drinking water purposes and structures specifically constructed
for aquaculture, salt production, recreation and irrigation purposes.
There are 115 wetlands officially identified by
Central Government and of those 26 are identified as wetlands of international
importance under Ramsar Convention (an international intergovernmental
treaty for conservation of wetlands to which India is party).
Safeguarding Wetlands:
Wetlands, vital parts of the hydrological cycle,
are highly productive ecosystems which support rich biodiversity and provide a
wide range of ecosystem services such as water storage, water purification,
flood mitigation, erosion control, aquifer recharge, microclimate regulation,
aesthetic enhancement of landscapes while simultaneously supporting many
significant recreational, social and cultural activities, being part of our
rich cultural heritage;
1.
Wetlands are threatened
by various causes:
Many wetlands are threatened by reclamation and
degradation through drainage and landfill, pollution (discharge of domestic and
industrial effluents, disposal of solid wastes), hydrological alteration (water
withdrawal and changes in inflow and outflow), over-exploitation of their
natural resources resulting in loss of biodiversity and disruption in ecosystem
services provided by wetlands.
1.
Article 51A of the
Constitution stipulates that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to
protect and improve the natural environment including forests, lakes, rivers
and wildlife and to have compassion for living creatures;
2.
The Environment
(Protection) Act, 1986 is a comprehensive legislation to provide
protection and improvement of the environment, including inter-alia, wetlands,
and for matters connected therewith;
3.
National Environment
Policy, 2006 recognises the ecosystem services provided by wetlands and
emphasizes the need to set up a regulatory mechanism for all wetlands so as to
maintain their ecological character, and ultimately support their integrated
management;
4.
India is a signatory to
the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands and is committed to conservation and wise use
of all wetlands within its territory;
Conservation and wise use of wetlands
can provide substantial direct and indirect economic benefits to state and
national economy, and thereby the Central Government stands committed to
mainstreaming full range of wetland biodiversity and ecosystem services in
development planning and decision making for various sectors.
The Central Government considered it necessary to
supersede the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 for effective
conservation and management of wetlands in the country.
Highlights of Wetlands (Conservation and
Management) Rules, 2017
1.
State Wetlands
Authority (SWA):
It stipulates setting up of SWA in each
State/UTs headed by State’s environment minister and include range of
government officials. State government will also nominate one expert each in
fields of wetland ecology, hydrology, fisheries, landscape planning and
socioeconomics.
1.
Functions of SWA:
It will develop comprehensive list of activities to
be regulated and permitted within notified wetlands and their zone of
influence. It will also recommend additional prohibited activities for specific
wetlands define strategies wise use of wetlands and its conservation and
undertake measures to enhance awareness within stakeholders and local
communities on values and functions of wetlands. In this case, wise use has
been defined as principle of sustainable uses that is compatible with
conservation.
1.
Prohibited
Activities:
The rules prohibit activities like conversion of
wetland for non-wetland uses including encroachment of any kind, setting up and
expansion of industries, waste dumping and discharge of untreated wastes and
effluents from industries, cities, towns, villages and other human settlements.
1.
Digital inventory
of all wetlands:
It is mandatory for state authorities to prepare
list of all wetlands and list of wetlands to be notified within six months.
Based on it, a comprehensive digital inventory of all wetlands will be created
and will be updated every ten years.
1.
National Wetlands
Committee (NWC):
The rules stipulates for setting up of NWC,
headed by MoEFCC Secretary, to monitor implementation of these rules and
oversee work carried out by States.
NCW will also advise Central Government on
appropriate policies and action programmes for conservation and wise use of wetlands,
recommend designation of wetlands of international importance under Ramsar
Convention, advise on collaboration with international agencies on issues
related to wetlands etc.
Comparing 2010 and 2017 Rules:
The 2010 and 2017 Rules for wetlands both
emphasise that the ecological character of wetlands ought to be maintained for
their conservation.
§ ‘Ecological character’ refers to processes and components which make
the wetland a particular, and sometimes unique, ecosystem. For example, as
lagoons like Chilika (Odisha) and Pulicat (Tamil Nadu/Andhra Pradesh) are
characterised by a mix of saline and fresh water, the flows of each type need
to be maintained; river flood plains contain wetlands that require conservation
so they can re-fuel the river with fish and other aquatic life during flooding.
In the 2010 Rules, some related criteria were made
explicit, such as natural beauty, ecological sensitivity, genetic diversity,
historical value, etc. These have been omitted in the 2017 Rules.
There are a few reasons why this is problematic.
§ There are multiple interests around wetlands. Multiple interests also
have governance needs, and this makes it absolutely necessary to identify and
map these multiple uses.
§ It is crucial to identify ecological criteria so that the wetlands’
character can be maintained. The key to wetland conservation is not just
understanding regimes of multiple uses — but conserving or managing the
integrity of the wetland ecosystem.
§ Finally, restriction of activities on wetlands will be done as per
the principle of ‘wise use’, determined by the State wetland
authority. Whether wise use will include maintaining ecological character
remains to be seen.
Under the new Rules, no authority to issue directions,
which are binding in nature to desist from any activity detrimental to wetland
conservation, has been prescribed to State wetland authorities.
Salt pans as ‘wetlands’ have been omitted from the
new Rules. They were identified as wetlands in the 2010 Rules, as they are
often important sites of migratory birds and other forms of biodiversity.
The case of Deepor Beel
The issue of wetlands being multiple-use found
centre-stage this year with the observations of the National Green Tribunal
(NGT) in the case of Deepor Beel.
Deepor Beel is a Ramsar site and a part of it is
also wildlife sanctuary in Guwahati, Assam. This wetland harbours a wide
variety of biodiversity, and also suffers from intense man-made pressure — the
city’s municipal waste is dumped close to the Beel. Large, meat-eating storks
(Greater adjutant storks) are ironically found eating from the mountains of
garbage at the site. Potential impacts of contamination or poisoning from the
garbage are still unknown.
This January, 26 storks died. The fact that Deepor
Beel exists as a wetland does not prevent garbage dumping; this is a fate faced
by many wetlands.
The NGT’s observations on Deepor Beel are
interesting and symptomatic of what is happening in several wetlands.
In an inspection done by the judicial member of the
Tribunal, it was noted that waste was being dumped “not beyond the site but
within it,” and “demarcations are made by drying out areas or cutting off water
sources”. These are classic ways of killing a wetland and turning it from
a wet to a dry ecosystem; or from a lake to a garbage dump or cesspool. The
Tribunal has now asked for the “traditional” spread of the wetland.
Way forward
Given all the modern uses of wetlands, looking
at traditional cartography may be one way to understand catchments of
wetlands.
It may also be a way of restoring some modicum of
ecological character, identity or ‘rights’ to wetlands, as the river judgment
suggested.
There are challenges ahead in identifying wetlands
– multiple and competing use is just one of them.
Understanding the historic spread and ecological
character will be an important safeguard for the way forward. Setting
clear governance systems would be the next.
IMPORTANT POINTS
·
Lower House passes
Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill, 2017 on
- 20th December 2017
·
Parliament passes
Companies Amendment Bill on - 19th December 2017
·
Cabinet approves MoU
between India, Cuba on cooperation in Health and Medicine field on -
20th December 2017
·
SAMEEP to take
foreign policy to classroom launched by - MEA
·
Parliament passes Indian
Institutes of Management Bill, 2017 on - 19th December 2017
·
Indian Navy conducted
Exercise Naseem-Al- Bahr with Oman Navy on - 20th December 2017
·
Lok Sabha passes Indian
Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 on - 20th December 2017
DETAILS
Lower House
passes Requisitioning and Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill,
2017 on - 20th December 2017
·
The Requisitioning and
Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill, 2017 was passed by the
Lower House of the Parliament, Lok Sabha on 20th December 2017. The bill
would be amending regulations governing compensation amount payable for
acquisition of immovable property by the central government for
defence and security purposes. Newly appointed Minister of Housing and Urban
Affairs, Hardeep Singh Puri moved the bill.
·
Bill's key provisions
·
It seeks to amend a
provision to allow the Centre to re-issue the acquisition notice in order to
ensure that the property's owner gets an opportunity to be heard.
·
The bill will be having
retrospective effect from 1952.
·
The government intends to
pay fair and just compensation to the land owner, through this amendment.
·
Incase of the reissuance
of the notice, the property owner will be entitled to an interest on the
compensation payable to them.
·
The re-issue of notice
will not be applying to cases where the compensation has already been awarded
and accepted by the claimants.
·
Importance
·
The amendment is done in
the interest of the security of the nation.
·
It will be helping
corrupt elements from taking undue advantage by misusing the litigation
process.
Parliament passes Companies Amendment Bill on - 19th December 2017
The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017 that aims to bring about major
changes in the Companies Act, 2013, was passed by Rajya Sabha on 19th December
2017 by a voice vote. The Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in July 2017
previously during its Monsoon session. It will now be receiving the assent of
the President of India to become a law.
Important
Highlights
·
The Bill is to amend the
companies law to strengthen corporate governance standards, initiate strict
action against defaulting companies and help improve ease of doing
business in the country.
·
It also provides over 40
amendments to the Companies Act, 2013, which was passed during the previous UPA
regime.
·
The major changes
possibly brought on by the bill’s adoption will be including:
·
Private placement process
simplification.
·
Rationalization of
provisions related to loans to directors.
·
Aligning disclosure
requirements in the prospectus with the regulations made by SEBI.
·
To provide for
maintenance of register of significant beneficial owners.
·
To make offence for
contravention of provisions relating to deposits as non-compoundable.
Cabinet
approves MoU between India, Cuba on cooperation in Health and Medicine field on
- 20th December 2017
The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 20th December
2017 gave its ex-post- facto acceptance for the signing of a Memorandum of
Understanding between India and Cuba on cooperation in the area of Health
and Medicine. The MoU was signed on 6th December 2017 in New Delhi.
Following are the areas of cooperation covered under the MoU:-
·
Interchange &training
of medical doctors, officials, other related health professionals and experts.
·
Assistance in development
of human resources, setting up of health care facilities and health services.
·
Short duration training
of human resources in health.
Regulation of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and trading of information.
·
Promotion of business
development chances in pharmaceuticals and others recognized by parties.
·
Obtaining generic and
crucial drugs and assistance in sourcing of drug supplies.
Obtaining health
equipment and pharmaceutical products.
Apart from this, the accordance would cover any other area of cooperation that
is finalized and mutually agreed upon by both the countries.
A Joint Working
Group will be formed to further elaborate the details of the cooperation and to
oversee the execution of this MoU.
SAMEEP to
take foreign policy to classroom launched
by - MEA
The Ministry of External Affairs has initiated a new program SAMEEP-
Students and MEA Engagement Program, to make the student understand
India's position in the world and its global ambitions, and also to look
at diplomacy as a career prospective.
It’s an outreach program by MEA to take India’s foreign policy and its
worldwide commitments to students across the nation.
SAMEEP (Students and MEA Engagement Program)
·
·
Under this new project
SAMEEP, the Ministry of External affairs has asked all its public-servants,
undersecretary and above, to go their native places and particularly their
alma mater while on vacation.
·
There they would engage
and communicate with students in the schools and colleges and inform how the
MEA works, India’s foreign policy, how they do diplomacy so that the
student consider about this as a career choice.
·
·
SAMEEP is a voluntary
program and it facilitates foreign officials the option of going back to any
school or college in their native place or to their alma mater.
·
Working of MEA
·
The MEA would supply them
a standardized presentation and public-servants would be free to make
the alterations for the betterment of it can sum their personal
experiences.
·
·
The aim of SAMEEP is not
only to get the common student to take an interest in India's foreign policy
with its neighbors and other nations but also to consider diplomacy as a
career choice.
·
·
A same program has had
IAS officers also going back to the place of their 1st posting to assess its
development and make guidance.
·
Parliament
passes Indian Institutes of Management Bill, 2017 on - 19th December 2017
The Indian Institutes of Management Bill, 2017 was approved by the
Parliament with Rajya Sabha, the Upper House, passing it on 19th December
2017.
The Lower House of the Parliament, Lok Sabha had already approved the
bill in July 2017 during its monsoon session. It will now have to get the
assent of the President of India to become a law.
Key Provisions of
the Bill
·
The Bill announces the
IIMs as institutions of national importance.
·
The bill focuses to
extend large autonomy to IIMs by limiting the Union government’s role in their
functioning.
·
It allows statutory
powers to the IIMs in their running including the appointment of directors and
faculty members.
·
It also allows them the
power to grant degrees to their graduates.
·
It looks forward to
empower IIMs to attain standards of global excellence in management, management
research and associated areas of knowledge.
·
It also commits to grant
administrative, academic and financial autonomy to these B-Schools.
·
It also initiates
coordination Forum of IIMs as advisory body.
Additional Powers given to the Board
·
The board will have
significant participation of experts and alumni.
·
It will choose
Chairperson and Director of IIM.
·
It will also incorporate
women and members from Scheduled Castes/Tribes.
·
It will also make
planning for periodic review of the performance of IIM by private agencies and
their results will be displayed in public domain.
Indian Navy
conducted Exercise Naseem-Al- Bahr with Oman Navy on - 20th December 2017
Indian Navy on 20th December 2017 organized the joint naval exercise
Naseem-Al- Bahr with the Oman Navy. The exercise is also known
as Sea Breeze. This is the eleventh edition of the exercise which has been
a biennial feature since 1993.
Indian Naval Ships Trikand and Teg entered Muscat, Oman on 16th December 2017
for the harbor phase. A Pre-sail meeting for the exercise was organized at Said
Bin Sultan Naval Base, Wudam on 17th Dec 2017.
The Indian Navy ships with 4 Royal Navy of Oman ships Al Rasikh,
Khassab, Al Mubashir and Al Bushra are presently sailing for the sea phase
of the exercise. For the 1st time, an Indian Navy submarine along
with versatile long range maritime aircraft P8I is taking part in the
exercise.
·
Bilateral relations between Indian and Oman
·
India has an old maritime
tradition with Oman which dates back to over 4000 years B.C.
·
Bilateral alliance
between Indian and Oman were formally confirmed with signing of a 1953
Indo-Oman Treaty of friendship, Navigation and Commerce, which was also
the 1st between India and an Arab nation.
·
The 1st exercise between
Indian Navy and Royal Navy of Oman was organized in 1993. Both the nations
also signed a MoU on Defense Cooperation in December 2005 and a MoU on the
Joint Military Cooperation in March 2006.
Lok Sabha
passes Indian Forest (Amendment) Bill, 2017 on - 20th December 2017
Lok Sabha on 20th December 2017 approved the Indian Forest (Amendment)
Bill, 2017. The Bill looks forward to amend the Indian Forest Act, 1927.
The Bill was initiated in Lok Sabha by Union Minister of Environment,
Forest, and Climate Change Harsh
Vardhan on 18th December 2017. The Bills restore the Indian Forest
(Amendment) Ordinance, 2017.
In the Indian Forest Act, the definition of tree containing palms,
bamboos, stumps, brush-wood, and canes. The Bill amends this
definition of tree to separate the word bamboos.
The bamboo, though taxonomically a grass, is regarded as tree under the Indian
Forest Act, 1927. The transit of bamboo allures the requirement of permit
under the said Act.
The farmers have been facing problems in getting the permits for
felling and transport of bamboos within the State and also for the
inter-state transport. This has been placed as major obstacle by farmers for
the cultivation of bamboos on their land.
Once the amendment bill becomes an Act, the transportation of bamboos growing
in non-forest areas will not require any permission.
Did you know?
·
Bamboo grows extensively
in areas outside forests with an approximately growing stock of 10.20 million
tonnes.
·
About 20 million people
are connected in bamboo related activities. The present demand of bamboo in
India is approximated at 28 million tonnes.
·
According to the UN’s
Industrial Development Organization, the bamboo occupation in the North-East
Region itself has a potential of about Rs 5000 crores in the coming 10
years. Considering this, government inaugurated the amendment to
improve the economy of the entire nation.
·
India, Myanmar sign MoU
to develop Rakhine state for Rohingya community’s safe return India
on 20th December 2017 signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Myanmar to
enlarge Rakhine state, the region from where thousands of Rohingya Muslims
had escaped to Bangladesh following a military crackdown, resulting in one
of the world’s biggest refugee disaster.
·
The accordance was signed
by India’s Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Myanmar's Deputy Minister for
Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Soe Aung.
·
As per the India’s
External Affairs Ministry, the MoU is the 1st government to government
accordance signed by the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and
Resettlement of Myanmar with a cooperation partner focused on
socio- economic development and livelihood capability in the State of
Rakhine.
·
MAIN OBJECTIVE
·
·
The MoU focuses to help
the government of Myanmar achieve its aim of restoring normalcy to the
Rakhine region and permit the safe return of the displaced Rohingya
community.
·
In the MoU, the Indian
government has suggested to take up, among others, a project to construct
prefabricated housing in Rakhine State, so as to meet the immediate
requirements of returning people.
Did you know?
·
The visit by India’s
Foreign Secretary Jaishankar to Myanmar is of great deliberated importance, as
more than 650,000 Rohing as had escaped to neighboring country Bangladesh
ever since violence exploded in Rakhine in August 2017.
·
The minority Rohingya
fraternity does not enjoy citizenship in Myanmar.
·
Human rights detectors
have accused Myanmar's military of atrocities opposing the Rohingyas.
·
The UNs entitle the
violence against the Rohingyas in Rakhine, as ethnic cleansing.
One Liners of the
day: 21 December 2017
o
This state’s government
has approved the setting up of ‘cow protection committees - Uttar Pradesh
o
The Lok Sabha passed this
bill amending regulations governing compensation amount payable for acquisition
of immovable property by the central government for defence and security
purposes -The Requisitioning and
Acquisition of Immovable Property (Amendment) Bill, 2017
o
India has signed a MoU
with this nation to develop Rakhine state, to enable safe return of Rohingya
Muslims - Myanmar
o
He resigned as the
Chairperson of National Green Tribunal on 19 December 2017 - Justice Swatanter Kumar
o
Indian army conducted a
major exercise called 'Hamesha Vijayee' in this state - Rajasthan
o
This nation announced its
intention of hosting a meeting of WTO member nations in Feb 2018 to garner
support for issues like food security - India
o
The Indian navy conducted
bilateral military exercise ‘Naseem-Al-Bahr’ with this nation’s naval force – Omaz
o
India has signed a
nancial agreement for a skill strengthening project with this International
nancial institution - World Bank
o
The lawmakers of this
nation voted to remove presidential age limits, paving way for their current
President to serve a sixth term in oce - Uganda
o
Indian navy completed the
2nd phase of joint oceanographic survey with this country’s naval force - Sri Lanka
o
This Judicial member has
been appointed as the acting chairperson of National Green Tribunal (NGT),
following Justice Swatanter Kumar’s superannuation - Justice U D Salvi
o
This bill has been passed
by both the houses of the Parliament, as of 19 December 2017 - The Companies (Amendment) Bill, 2017
o
Study of sound – Acoustics
o
Chemistry in ancient
times is called – Alchemy
o
Study of plants- Botany
o
Study of duration of life is - Chronobiology
o
Art of making fireworks is – Chromatics
o
The art of secret writings is - Cypher
o Air Conditioning invented by- Willis
Carrier in 1902
o
Barometer invented by - Evangelista Torricelli of Italy in 1644
o Ball
point pen invented by - John J. Loud of U.S.A. in
1888
o Study
of Universe is – Cosmology
o Big
bang theory explains – Origin of Universe
o
Big Bang was an explosion that occurred - 15
Billion years ago
o
Correct order of solar system starting from
Sun - Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, Neptune
Message Ends
Message Ends
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