PERIYAR IAS CURRENT AFFAIRS 31-MARCH-2018
Topic:
Important aspects of governance, transparency and accountability, e-governance-
applications, models, successes, limitations, and potential.
E-way bill
Context: As
the country prepares for the nationwide mandatory rollout of the e-way bill
system for inter-state movement of goods from April 1 under the goods and
services tax (GST) regime, Karnataka
will be an exception having notified the e-way bill for both inter-state as
well as intra-state movement of goods.
Background:
Karnataka
was the first state to operationalise the e-way bill system in September 2017,
using the information and communications technology (ICT) infrastructure
available with the state.
What is e-way bill?
An e-way
bill is required for movement of goods worth more than Rs 50,000. When goods
are transported for less than 10 km within a state, the supplier or the
transporter need not furnish details on the GST portal.
The e-way
bill mechanism has been introduced in the GST regime to plug tax evasion
loopholes. Tax evasion was one of the reasons cited by the government for the
fall in revenue collection in October.
Are there concerns from industry?
Trade and
industry have raised concerns about the system being a possible route for the
re-emergence of supply chain bottlenecks, and discretionary power to tax
officials. The industry views the e-way bill as a system that will check tax
evasion to some extent, but may not be able to stop it completely. Also, it
adds another layer of compliances for GST payers and, in case of technical
glitches, may result in supply chain bottlenecks.
Sources:
the hindu.
Topic: India
and its neighbourhood- relations.
Diplomatic Tussle between India and Pakistan
Context: India
and Pakistan have agreed to solve the diplomatic tussle over the allegations of
harassment of the diplomats in each other’s countries. The two countries have
mutually decided to resolve matters as per the 1992 code of conduct (COC)
ensuring the diplomats and their families are not harassed.
1992 Code of Conduct:
As per the
1992 code of conduct, the two countries would ensure “smooth and unhindered
functioning of their diplomatic and consular officials in conformity with
recognised norms of international law and practice.”
§ The two
governments will also ensure that there is “no violation of the privileges and
immunities of their diplomatic and consular officials” and there should be “no
offences against their dignity and person”.
§ It also
states that intrusive and aggressive surveillance and actions such as verbal
and physical harassment, disconnecting of telephone lines, threatening
telephone calls, pursuit in cars and unauthorised entry into residences shall
not be resorted to.
What’s the issue?
The
diplomatic ties of India and Pakistan took a hit over the harassment of the
diplomats in each other’s countries. Both the countries have accused each other
of harassing and intimidating their diplomats.
Sources:
the hindu.
Paper 3:
Topic: Science
and Technology- developments and their applications and effects in everyday
life.
Interstitium: The latest organ discovered in human body
Context: Scientists
have discovered a new organ in the human body which they have dubbed the
‘interstitium’.
About Interstitium:
The new
organ is known as the Interstitium and it is found everywhere in our bodies,
acting as a shock absorber in all places where tissues are moved or subjected
to force.
§ It lies
beneath the top layer of skin, but is also in tissue layers lining the gut,
lungs, blood vessels, and muscles. The organ is a network of interconnected,
fluid-filled spaces all over the body.
§ Scientists
say, it may even be one of the largest organs in the body. The organ acts like
a shock absorber in all places where tissues are moved or subjected to force.
WHAT IS THE ORGAN MADE OF?
The organ
is a network of interconnected, fluid-filled spaces all over the body and is
made up of both strong (collagen) and flexible (elastin) connective tissue
proteins, with interstitial fluid moving throughout.
Functions of the organ:
§ Interstitial
spaces are organized by a collagen “mesh”, can shrink, expand, and “may thus
serve as shock absorbers.”
§ These
“dynamically compressible and distensible sinuses” act as thoroughfares to
transport critical fluids within organs and around the body.
§ The
Interstitium plays an important role in carrying lymph, the clear fluid that
also travels through lymphatic vessels and supports immunity.
Significance of the discovery:
The
discovery of the fluid ‘highway’ could help to explain how cancer spreads in
the body, and pave the way for new ways to detect and treat the disease.
Sources:
toi.
Topic:
Awareness in the fields of IT, Space.
BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS)
Context: China
has successfully launched two satellites with a single rocket to strengthen its
BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS). The two satellites are coded as the
30th and 31st members in the BDS.
About BeiDou Satellite System:
Named
after the Chinese term for Big Dipper, the BeiDou system started providing
independent services over China in 2000. It is being projected by Beijing as a
rival to the American Global Positioning System (GPS).
§ It has
total 22 Operational satellites in orbit and the full constellation is
scheduled to comprise 35 satellites.
§ BeiDou has
two separate constellations, BeiDou-1 and BeiDou-2. BeiDou-1 also known as
first generation was a constellation of three satellites. BeiDou-2, also known as COMPASS, is the
second generation of the system. It became operational in the year 2011.
What are the various GNSS systems?
The four
global GNSS systems are – GPS (US), GLONASS (Russia), Galileo (EU), BeiDou
(China). Additionally, there are two regional systems – QZSS (Japan) and IRNSS
or NavIC (India).
Sources:
the hindu.
Facts for Prelims:
Naitwar Mori Hydro Electric Project:
Context:
Construction works on 60 MW Naitwar Mori Hydro Electric Project have begun.
About the
project:
§ The
Naitwar Mori Project with a generation potential of 60 MW is located on River Tons, a major tributary of River Yamuna on
the Ganga basin, in Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand state in North India.
§ This
run-of-the river project was allocated to SJVN Ltd by the Government of
Uttarakhand. SJVN Ltd is a
Mini Ratna PSU under administrative control of the Ministry of Power, Govt. of
India.
Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi:
Who is Anandibai Gopalrao Joshi? She
was India’s first female doctor and first woman to obtain a degree in western
medicine.
Why in news? Google
Doodle celebrated her 153rd Birthday on March 31st. Anandi
Joshi was born on 31st March 1865 in Maharashtra.
‘Sarmat’:
What is
it? It is Russia’s most advanced nuclear-capable intercontinental ballistic
missile. It was flight-tested recently.
Key facts:
The Sarmat
is a heavy ICBM intended to replace Russia’s aging, Soviet-era missiles that
form the basis of its nuclear deterrent.
The chief
innovation of the Sarmat is its ability to carry a large number of guided
warheads.
The
missile is believed to be able to fly 16,000 miles and is capable of flying
over the South Pole to strike the U.S.
NATO has
named this missile as ‘Satan 2’.
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