PERIYAR IAS CURRENT AFFAIRS 23-MARCH-2018
Topic:
Government policies and interventions for development in various sectors and
issues arising out of their design and implementation.
Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017
Context: Parliament
has passed the Payment of Gratuity (Amendment) Bill, 2017.
Highlights of the Bill:
§ The 2017
Bill empowers the central government to (i) notify the period of maternity
leave eligible for qualifying as continuous service; and (ii) determine the
amount of gratuity available to employees.
§ The Bill
removes the reference to 12 weeks in the 1972 Act and empowers the central
government to notify the maximum maternity leave.
§ Under the
Act, the maximum amount of gratuity payable to an employee cannot exceed Rs 10
lakh. The Bill removes the existing ceiling and states that the ceiling may be
notified by the central government.
The Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972:
The
Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 applies to establishments employing 10 or more
persons. 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. Therefore, the Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 is an important social
security legislation to wage earning population in industries, factories and
establishments.
Who Are Eligible?
The
Payment of Gratuity Act, 1972 allows for the payment of gratuity to employees
in any establishment, factory, mine, oil field, plantation, port, railways,
company, or shop employing 10 or more workers.
What’s important?
§ For
Prelims: Details of the Amendment Bill.
§ For Mains:
Need for social security and its benefits.
Sources:
pib.
Topic:
Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure,
mandate.
African Continental Free Trade Area
Context: The
African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has been signed by 44 African
countries at a summit of the African Union in Kigali, Rwanda. If successful, it
will be the biggest trade trade agreement since the formation of the World
Trade Organization in 1995. Nigeria,
Africa’s largest economy and most populous country, as well as a host of others
did not sign the agreement.
What is AfCFTA?
African
heads of government agreed to establish a continental free trade area in 2012
and started negotiations in 2015.
§ The draft
agreement commits countries to removing tariffs on 90% of goods, with 10% of
“sensitive items” to be phased in later.
§ The
agreement will also liberalise services and aims to tackle so-called
“non-tariff barriers” which hamper trade between African countries, such as
long delays at the border.
§ Eventually,
free movement of people and even a single currency could become part of the
free trade area.
Significance of AfCFTA:
The AfCFTA
has the potential to bring over 1.2bn people together into the same market. The
bloc of 55 nations would be the largest in the world by member states.
§ The AfCFTA
could improve trade between African countries, which in 2016 estimates stated
accounted for only 10%. By reducing barriers to trade, such as removing import
duties and non-tariff barriers, African countries hope to boost
intra-continental business.
Objectives of the AfCFTA:
§ Create a
single continental market for goods and services, with free movement of
business persons and investments, and thus pave the way for accelerating the
establishment of the Continental Customs Union and the African customs union.
§ Expand
intra African trade through better harmonization and coordination of trade
liberalization and facilitation regimes and instruments across RECs and across
Africa in general.
§ Resolve
the challenges of multiple and overlapping memberships and expedite the
regional and continental integration processes.
§ Enhance
competitiveness at the industry and enterprise level through exploiting
opportunities for scale production, continental market access and better
reallocation of resources.
What’s important?
§ For
Prelims: AfCFTA, who has not signed.
§ For Mains:
Need for Single unified market for the development of African region.
Sources:
the hindu.
Paper 3:
Topic:
Investment models.
Toll Operate and Transfer (TOT) model
Context: The
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), which invited bids for various
highways, hopes to generate more than Rs 6,000 crore by leasing out the roads
under the ‘toll-operate-transfer’ (TOT) model. This will provide NHAI funds to
build more highways, filling in for the private sector that is reluctant to
invest in new highways.
Background:
The
Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs in 2016 had authorised NHAI to monetise
75 publicly funded national highways that are operational and have been generating
toll revenues for at least two years.
About the TOT model:
Under this
newly launched ToT model, the
right to collect user-fee or toll on selected national highway stretches built
through public funding is proposed to be auctioned and assigned to a concessionaire
for a period of 30 years against
an upfront payment of a lump-sum amount to the government.
§ The concessionaire is also responsible for the operation
and maintenance of the roads during the tenure.
§ The model
concession agreement also seeks to address the risks associated with such a
long concession contract, with several provisions designed to deal with
eventualities like roadway expansion, high toll traffic variation, etc., to
ensure that concessionaires are not exposed to undue risks.
§ The government can also increase the concession period in
later stages, if the concessionaire wants it.
Significance of the Model:
India is
facing a $526 billion infrastructure investment gap by 2040. The TOT model,
once successful in the highways sector, other sectors such as power
transmission, oil and natural gas could replicate the same model, thereby
unlocking the huge offbudget funding.
What’s important?
For
Prelims and Mains: ToT Model and its significance.
Sources:
pib.
Topic:
Conservation.
Strategy on Resource efficiency
Context: Niti
aayog has initiated implementation of strategy on Resource efficiency. After
detailed discussion,a road map for implementation of the RE in the country has
also been evolved.
Following
measures related to implementation of strategy on resource efficiency was
announced by the NITI Aayog:
§ NITI Aayog
will facilitate the RE strategy implementation. Implementation however will be
the responsibility of the line ministries/departments.
§ A baseline
survey on RE could be considered for better targeting.
§ A Status
paper on RE and Four sectoral strategy papers on RE are to be prepared.
§ SWACH
Bharat also means a clean production/mining environment, therefore resource
efficiency and circular economy are also a part of this initiative.
§ One pilot
study on Ease of Doing RE Business in collaboration with DIPP could be
considered.
§ Finally,
RE is a potential instrument for generating wealth from waste. Measures for
promoting effective recycling of scrap generated in the country could be
explored.
Strategy on Resource Efficiency:
§ NITI Aayog in collaboration with the European Union
delegation to India have released the Strategy on Resource Efficiency. The
strategy aims to promote resource efficiency in India.
§ This strategy is the first policy document to emphasize
resource productivity in the country. The
Strategy emphasizes on Sustainable Public Procurement (SSP) as an action agenda
which will be the market transformation tool to transform to a resource
efficient economy.
§ It is
developed with the recommendations from the Indian Resource Efficiency
Programme (IREP), launched by the Indian Ministry of Environment, Forests and
Climate Change (MoEFCC) and Indian Resource Panel (InRP) in April 2017.
What is Resource Efficiency and why do we need it?
Resource
efficiency very simply put is making more with fewer materials. In practice,
through a life-cycle approach, it leads to minimizing impact on environment
& the associated societal burdens, transforming ‘waste’ into ‘resources’
fostering circular economy, and strengthening resource security.
Resource
Efficiency and Circular Economy are important goals and central principles for
achieving sustainable development. Sustainability is a global priority and SDGs
commitment and 11th Five year plan also clearly enunciate importance of
Resource efficiency (RE).
Facts for Prelims:
About InRP: The
new Indian Resource Panel (InRP) was officially unveiled in 2016, making India
one of the first emerging economies to set up a national advisory body on
resource efficiency. The InRP was created with support from the International
Climate Initiative as part of the project ‘Resource efficiency and secondary
raw materials management as a contribution to climate change mitigation’. The
InRP will issue recommendations to Indian businesses and policy-makers on
improving the general conditions for resource efficiency.
What’s important?
§ For
Prelims: InRP, Niti aayog strategy on Resource efficiency.
§ For Mains:
Resource efficiency and its significance for India.
Sources:
pib.
Topic:
Conservation.
World Water Day 2018
Context: Every
year on March 22, World
Water Day is celebrated. 2018 marks the 25th anniversary of World Water Day.
Theme: This
year’s theme of World Water Day is ‘Nature for Water’ and
exploring nature-based solutions (NBS) to the water challenges that we are
currently facing.
Campaign: The
campaign which is being run by UN is being called ‘The answer is in nature’ and
the motto is to raise awareness on how we nations together can save water by
following nature based solutions.
About World Water Day:
In the
year 1992, March 22 was first officially added in the schedule 21 of United
Nations Conference on Environment and Development as World Water Day in the Rio
de Janeiro, Brazil.
§ The
celebrations to mark world water day started from the year 1993. The aim of the
day is to increase awareness among people about the importance, need and
conservation of water.
§ The World
Water Development Report is also released by the UN every year around World
Water Day.
SDG:
The goals
of World Water Day are in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal 6, a
program which targets bringing safe drinking water and clean sanitation to
everyone around the world.
How The Day Is Celebrated?
The United
Nations including all the member nations celebrate March 22 by implementing the
UN recommendations as well as promoting the global water conservation through
the real activities like promotion of clean water conservation, governments’
plan of action for water conservation and publishing critical reports that
highlights the statistics and data on water.
The UN-Water is responsible for the selection of World
Water Day theme every year,
distribution of global messages as well as leading the UN agencies for
celebrating the World Day for Water.
Need for conservation of water:
Today,
around 1.9 billion people live in potentially severely water-scarce areas. By
2050, this could increase to around 3 billion people. This translates to an
increase of nearly one and half times in just 30 years.
Sources:
pib.
Topic:
Conservation.
International Day of Forests
Context: International
Day of Forests is observed on March 21st every
year.
2018 Theme: Forests
and Sustainable Cities.
About the International Day of Forests:
The United
Nations General Assembly proclaimed 21 March the International Day of Forests
(IDF) in 2012. The Day celebrates and raises awareness of the importance of all
types of forests. On each International Day of Forests, countries are
encouraged to undertake local, national and international efforts to organize
activities involving forests and trees, such as tree planting campaigns.
Importance of trees for sustainable cities:
§ Forests
and trees store carbon, which helps mitigate the impacts of climate change in
and around urban areas.
§ Trees also
improve the local climate, helping to save energy used for heating by 20-50%.
§ Strategic
placement of trees in urban areas can cool the air by up to 8 degrees Celsius,
reducing air conditioning needs by 30%.
§ Urban
trees are excellent air filters, removing harmful pollutants in the air and
fine particulates.
§ Trees
reduce noise pollution, as they shield homes from nearby roads and industrial
areas.
§ Local
populations use the fruits, nuts, leaves and insects found in urban trees to
produce food and medicines for use in the home, or as a source of income.
§ Wood fuel
sourced from urban trees and planted forests on the outskirts of cities
provides renewable energy for cooking and heating, which reduces pressures on
natural forests and our reliance on fossil fuels.
§ Forests in
and around urban areas help to filter and regulate water, contributing to
high-quality freshwater supplies for hundreds of millions of people. Forests
also protect watersheds and prevent flooding as they store water in their
branches and soil.
§ Well-managed
forests and trees in and around cities provide habitats, food and protection
for many plants and animals, helping to maintain and increase biodiversity.
§ Forests in
cities and surrounding areas generate tourism, create tens of thousands of jobs
and encourage city beautification schemes, building dynamic, energetic and
prosperous green economies.
§ Urban
green spaces, including forests, encourage active and healthy lifestyles,
improve mental health, prevent disease, and provide a place for people to
socialize.
Sources:
pib.
Facts for Prelims:
Okhla Bird Sanctuary:
Context:
Foundation Stone for Redevelopment And Upgardation of Okhla Bird Sanctuary was
recently laid.
Key facts:
§ Okhla Bird Sanctuary is located close to New Delhi and is
one of the 467 Important Bird Areas (IBA) of
the country and is home to a large number of resident, as well as migratory
birds like grey-headed fish eagle, Baikal teal, Baer’s pochard and Sarus crane.
§ It is home
to 32 species of reptiles, 7 species of amphibians and 186 plant species.
§ Okhla Bird Sanctuary, belonging to the State of Uttar
Pradesh, has an area of 400 ha, out of which 120 ha
falls within the National
Capital Region of Delhi.
World’s first brass futures contract:
Context:
MCX, the country’s largest commodity exchange, has launched futures trading in
brass for first time in the world. With the launch of a transparent brass
futures contract, MCX will emerge as the benchmark price as volume picks up in
two months time.
Key facts:
§ Brass
would be first non-ferrous contract with compulsory delivery options – the
IS-319 grade brass ingots and billets can be delivered at Jamnagar in Gujarat.
§ Brass, an alloy, usually contains 60% zinc and the rest
is copper. It finds varied industrial use in
electrical appliance, switch gears, sanitary ware, automobiles and defence
sectors.
First Indian Sign Language Dictionary of 3000 Words
Launched:
Context:
First Indian Sign Language Dictionary of 3000 words has been launched. As per
the census 2011, there are 50, 71,007 Deaf people and 19, 98,535 with speech
disability in India.
Key facts:
§ The
dictionary has been developed by Indian Sign Language Research & Training
Centre (ISLR&TC) under Department of Empowerment of Persons with
Disabilities (DEPwD), M/o Social Justice & Empowerment.
§ Its aim is
to give Deaf people the constitutional right to speech and opportunity of
freedom of expression and also bringing them into the main stream of the
society.
Fluorimeter:
Context:
An instrument to measure traces of uranium in water has been developed by a
unit of the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE).
Key facts:
§ The
instrument, “Fluorimeter”, has been developed by the Raja Ramanna Centre for
Advanced Technology (RRCAT), an Indore-based unit of the DAE.
§ The
device, costing Rs 1 lakh, would help in detecting traces of uranium in water.
§ The
instrument is capable of examining traces of uranium in a sample of water from
0.1 PPB (Parts-per-billion) unit to 100 PPB.
Uranium:
Uranium is a radioactive element. If in any source of water it’s quantity is
more than the permissible limit, then use of such water may cause thyroid
cancer, blood cancer, depression and other serious ailments. Notably, the
Atomic Energy Regulatory Board has fixed the permissible radiological limit to
60 PPB of uranium concentration for drinking water.
BrahMos Supersonic Cruise Missile:
Context:
Supersonic cruise missile BrahMos was recently successfully flight-tested for
the first time with an indigenous seeker. So far, the seeker, a critical
technology in missiles, had come from Russia. The seeker technology determines
the accuracy of a missile.
Key facts:
§ The
BrahMos is the fastest cruise missile of its class in the world.
§ BrahMos
missile flies almost three times the speed of sound at Mach 2.8 and has a range
of 290 km.
§ The
missile has been jointly developed with Russia and is named after the rivers
Brahmaputra and Moskva in Russia.
§ BrahMos
missile is the heaviest weapon to be deployed on India’s Su-30 fighter
aircraft.
§ Since
India’s entry into the MTCR, the range has been extended to 450 km and the plan
is to increase it to 600km.
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