PERIYAR IAS CURRENT AFFAIRS 9- NOVEMBER-2017
Topic: Indian culture will cover the salient aspects of Art Forms,
Literature and Architecture from ancient to modern times.
Chennai now part of UNESCO’s ‘creative cities network’
Chennai has been included in the UNESCO Creative Cities Network
for its rich musical tradition. Including Chennai, a total of
64 cities from 44 countries have joined the UNESCO Creative Cities
Network. Jaipur and Varanasi
are the other Indian cities that feature on the list.
About Creative Cities Network:
What is it?
The UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN) was created in 2004 to
promote cooperation with and among cities that have identified creativity as a
strategic factor for sustainable urban development.
Objective:
The 180 cities which currently make up this network work together
towards a common objective: placing creativity and cultural industries at the
heart of their development plans at the local level and cooperating actively at
the international level.
The Network covers seven creative fields: Crafts and Folk Arts, Media Arts, Film, Design, Gastronomy,
Literature and Music.
Sources: the hindu.
Paper 2:
Topic: Statutory, regulatory and
various quasi-judicial bodies.
Island Development Agency
Context:
The recently held second meeting of Island Development Agency
(IDA) was chaired by the Union Home Minister Shri Rajnath Singh. The Island
Development Agency reviewed the concept development plans and detailed master
plans for holistic development of 09 islands – four in A&N Islands
i.e. Smith, Ross, Long, Avis and five in Lakshadweep i.e. Minicoy, Bangaram,
Thinnakara, Cheriyam, Suheli
About the Island Development Agency (IDA):
What is it?
The IDA was set up on June 1 this year following Prime Minister
Narendra Modi’s review meeting for the development of islands. The meetings of
the agency are chaired by the Union Home Minister.
Composition:
Members of the IDA include cabinet secretary, home secretary,
secretary (environment, forests and climate change), secretary (tourism) and
secretary (tribal welfare).
Sources: pib.
Topic: Issues relating to development and management of Social
Sector/Services relating to Health, Education, Human Resources.
India’s Second Technology and Innovation Support Center
(TISC)
The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), Ministry
of Commerce & Industry, Government of India, has signed an Institutional
agreement with Anna University to establish India’s second Technology and Innovation Support Center
(TISC) at the Centre for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), Anna
University, Chennai, under the World Intellectual Property Organization’s (WIPO) TISC program.
India’s first Technology and Innovation Support Center
(TISC) will come up at Patent Information Centre, Punjab
About TISC:
What is it?
These centres will be set up under WIPO’s Technology and
Innovation Support Centers (TISC) program. The programme provides innovators in
developing countries with access to locally based, high quality technology
information and related services, helping them to exploit their innovative
potential and to create, protect, and manage their intellectual property (IP)
rights.
The objective of the TISC –
is to stimulate a dynamic, vibrant and balanced Intellectual
Property Rights (IPRs) system in India to foster creativity and innovation,
thereby promoting entrepreneurship and enhancing social, economic and cultural
development by establishing a network of TISCs in India.
Key facts:
§ The Cell for IPR Promotion and Management (CIPAM) is designated as
the National Focal point for the TISC national network.
§ As the national focal point, CIPAM will identify potential host
institutions, assess their capacities and support them in joining the TISC
project.
§ CIPAM will also act as the main intermediary between WIPO and TISC
host institutions and coordinate all the activities of the national TISC
network.
Services offered by TISCs may include:
§ Access to online patent and non-patent (scientific and technical)
resources and IP-related publications.
§ Assistance in searching and retrieving technology information.
§ Training in database search.
§ On-demand searches (novelty, state-of-the-art and infringement).
§ Monitoring technology and competitors.
§ Basic information on industrial property laws, management and
strategy, and technology commercialization and marketing.
Sources: pib.
Topic: India and its neighbourhood- relations.
Belt and Road Initiative
Context:
China recently counselled India to shed its objections to the
China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and take advantage of the Belt and Road
Initiative (BRI), which had already drawn wide international support.
India was among a handful of countries that had skipped attendance
in Beijing of the Belt and Road Forum in May, objecting to the China Pakistan
Economic Corridor (CPEC), which passed through Kashmir.
About BRI:
What is it?
The initiative is the centrepiece of China’s foreign policy and
domestic economic strategy. It aims to rejuvenate ancient trade routes–Silk
Routes–which will open up markets within and beyond the region. Through this
initiative, China’s plan is to construct roads, railways, ports, and other
infrastructure across Asia and beyond to bind its economy more tightly to the
rest of the world.
Is the initiative a threat or an opportunity for India?
The answer undoubtedly ticks both boxes. Chinese political
expansion and economic ambitions are two sides of the same coin. To be firm
while responding to one facet, while making use of the opportunities that
become available from the other, will largely depend on the institutional
agency and strategic imagination India is able to bring to the table.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora,
their structure, mandate.
International Energy Agency (IEA)
Context:
The 2017 IEA Ministerial Meeting was recently held in Paris. The
focus of the meeting was on global energy challenges and how they can be
overcome.
Participants included representatives from the 29 IEA member
countries; accession countries Chile and Mexico; association countries China,
India, Indonesia, Morocco, Singapore and Thailand; and partner countries Brazil
and South Africa. CEOs from 30 top global energy companies also attended the
meeting.
About IEA:
What is it?
Founded in 1974, the IEA was initially designed to help countries
co-ordinate a collective response to major disruptions in the supply of oil,
such as the crisis of 1973/4. While this remains a key aspect of its work, the
IEA has evolved and expanded significantly.
The four main areas of IEA focus are:
§ Energy Security: Promoting diversity,
efficiency, flexibility and reliability for all fuels and energy sources;
§ Economic Development: Supporting free markets
to foster economic growth and eliminate energy poverty;
§ Environmental Awareness: Analysing policy options
to offset the impact of energy production and use on the environment,
especially for tackling climate change and air pollution; and
§ Engagement Worldwide: Working closely with
partner countries, especially major emerging economies, to find solutions to
shared energy and environmental concerns.
Functions:
§ The IEA examines the full spectrum of energy issues including oil,
gas and coal supply and demand, renewable energy technologies, electricity
markets, energy efficiency, access to energy, demand side management and much
more.
§ Through its work, the IEA advocates policies that will enhance the
reliability, affordability and sustainability of energy in its member countries
and beyond.
Sources: pib.
Topic: Important International institutions, agencies and fora,
their structure, mandate.
India demands transparency in UN Security Council reform
India has demanded transparency in the UN Security Council reform
process so that the people could know what is preventing the members from
translating discussions into a negotiating text for the much- needed revamping
of the world body’s top organ.
About UNSC:
What is it?
The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) is one of the organs of
the United Nations and is charged with the maintenance of international peace
and security. Its powers include the establishment of peacekeeping operations,
the establishment of international sanctions, and the authorization of military
action through Security Council resolutions; it is the only UN body with the
authority to issue binding resolutions to member states.
Members:
§ The Security Council consists of fifteen members. Russia, the
United Kingdom, France, China, and the United States—serve as the body’s five
permanent members. These permanent members can veto any substantive Security
Council resolution, including those on the admission of new member states or
candidates for Secretary-General.
§ The Security Council also has 10 non-permanent members, elected on
a regional basis to serve two-year terms. The body’s presidency rotates monthly
among its members.
Proposed reforms:
Reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) encompasses
five key issues: categories of membership, the question of the veto held by the
five permanent members, regional representation, the size of an enlarged
Council and its working methods, and the Security Council-General Assembly
relationship. There is also a proposal to admit more permanent members.
Why India should be given a permanent seat in the council?
§ India was among the founding members of United Nations.
§ It is the second largest and a one of the largest constant
contributor of troops to United Nations Peacekeeping missions.
§ Today, India has over 8,500 peacekeepers in the field, more than
twice as many as the UN’s five big powers combined.
§ India, since long time, has been demanding expansion of UNSC and
its inclusion as permanent member in it. It has been a member of UNSC for 7
terms and a member of G-77 and G-4, so permanent membership is a logical
extension.
Sources: the hindu.
Paper 3:
Topic: Indian Economy and issues relating to planning, mobilization
of resources, growth, development and employment.
Composition scheme
Context:
The advisory group set up to suggest changes to the GST Act
recently deliberated on how to expand the scope of the composition scheme as
well as rationalise the reverse charge mechanism process.
About the Composition scheme:
What is it?
The composition scheme is an alternative method of levy of tax
designed for small taxpayers whose turnover is up to Rs 75 lakh — Rs 50 lakh in
the case of eight north-eastern states and the hilly state of Himachal Pradesh.
The objective behind it is to bring
simplicity and reduce the compliance cost for small taxpayers.
Benefits:
While a regular taxpayer has to pay taxes on a monthly basis, a
composition supplier is required to file only one return and pay taxes on a
quarterly basis. Also, a composition taxpayer is not required to keep detailed
records that a normal taxpayer is supposed to maintain.
Key facts:
§ The scheme is optional under which manufacturers other than those
of ice cream, pan masala and tobacco products have to pay a 2% tax on their
annual turnover. The tax rate is 5% for restaurant services and 1% for traders.
§ As per the Central GST Act, businesses are eligible to opt for the
composition scheme if a person is not engaged in any inter-state outward
supplies of goods and not into making any supply of goods through an electronic
commerce operator who is required to collect tax at source.
Sources: the hindu.
Facts for Prelims:
§ Asian Boxing Championships:
Mary Kom has won the gold medal in the Asian Boxing Championships
in the Light Flyweight category, defeating DPR Korea’s Kim Hyang Mi. This is
Mary Kom’s sixth medal in the Asian Women’s Boxing Championships and fifth gold
medal, having won four gold medals and one silver medal in previous editions of
the tournament.
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