PERIYAR IAS CURRENT AFFAIRS 28-MAY-2018
Topic: Women
related issues.
Irish abortion referendum
Context: In
its recent referendum, Ireland voted decisively to repeal one of the world’s
more restrictive abortion bans, sweeping aside generations of conservative
patriarchy and dealing the latest in a series of stinging rebukes to the Roman
Catholic Church. The vote repeals the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution.
What is the eighth amendment?
The eighth
amendment is a clause inserted into the Irish constitution after a referendum
in 1983. It recognizes an equal right to life for both mother and unborn child,
effectively prohibiting abortion in almost all cases.
Why was it introduced?
Abortion
had been illegal in Ireland since the Offences Against the Person Act of 1861.
But with reform under way around Europe and many countries opting to permit
abortions on request until 12 weeks or more, anti-abortion campaigners in
Ireland sought the greater security of a constitutional amendment.
What does the law say now?
Two
further referendums were held in 1992, resulting in the 13th amendment, which
allows women to travel in and out of Ireland to have an abortion (pro-repeal
campaigners say 170,000 have done so), and the 14th, which authorises
information about abortion services overseas. In 2013, the law was changed to
permit abortions when doctors feel a woman’s life may be at risk from pregnancy
complications or suicide. Otherwise, a doctor unlawfully performing an abortion
faces prosecution and up 14 years in jail.
Way ahead:
Repeal of
the 8th amendment would allow the government to legislate on abortion. The
proposed legislation will bring Ireland into line with the majority of European
countries, allowing for abortion on request up to the 12th week of pregnancy
(subject to medical regulation). After 12 weeks abortion would only be
available in cases of fatal foetal anomaly, if the pregnant woman’s life was at
risk or if her health was at risk of serious harm. Cases after 12 weeks would
have to be approved by two doctors.
What’s important?
§ For
Prelims: 8th amendment
to the Irish constitution.
§ For Mains:
Abortion related issues.
Sources:
the hindu.
Paper 2:
Topic:
Appointment to various constitutional posts.
New governors appointed
Context: Ganeshi
Lal and Kummanam Rajasekharan have been appointed as Governors of Odisha and
Mizoram respectively by the President of India.
Governors of States in India:
Governor
is the head of the Executive power of any state in India, just like the
President who is the head of the executive power in the Union. But, Governor is
the nominal head of a state, unlike the Chief Minister who is the real head of
a state in India. According to an amendment in the Constitution of India,
brought about in 1956, the same person can be the Governor of two or more
states.
Appointment and removal: The
governors and lieutenant-governors are appointed by the president for a term of
5 years. The term of governor’s office is normally 5 years but it can be
terminated earlier by: Dismissal by the president on the advice of the prime
minister of the country, at whose pleasure the governor holds office or
Resignation by the governor. There is no provision of impeachment, as it
happens for the president. Article 157 and Article 158 of the Constitution of
India specify eligibility requirements for the post of governor.
Powers: Like
the President of India, the Governor of any state in India is vested with
certain executive, legislative and judicial powers. He or she also possesses
certain discretionary or emergency powers. But one major difference in the
powers enjoyed by the President and those enjoyed by the Governor is, the
Governor does not have any diplomatic or military powers.
What’s
important?
§ For
Prelims: Constitutional provisions related to the office of governor.
§ For Mains:
Controversies surrounding the office of the governor.
Sources:
pib.
Topic:
Statutory, regulatory and various quasi-judicial bodies.
Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural
Heritage (INTACH)
Context: Indian
National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is engaged in restoration
works of a trove of more than 600 pages of rare Tibetan manuscripts which
contains Buddha’s teachings written in gold letters. The restoration work is
being carried out at Mak Dhog Monastery in West Bengal.
Facts:
The
manuscripts contain the ancient Tibetan text called Gyetongba, which
contains teachings of Buddhism. The manuscripts are in the Tibetan script Sambhota, named
after its inventor.
About INTACH:
§ INTACH is
an autonomous non-governmental Indian non-profit society that seeks to preserve
Indian culture and heritage. It was founded in 1984.
§ In 2007,
the United Nations awarded INTACH a special consultative status with United
Nations Economic and Social Council.
What’s important?
§ For
Prelims: INTACH, Gyeetongba and Sambhota.
§ For Mains:
Significance of Budhha’s teachings.
Sources:
the hindu.
Topic:
Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure,
mandate.
NATO
Context: Colombia
is all set to formally become the NATO’s first Latin American “global partner.”
Colombia will join as a “global partner”, which means it will not necessarily
have to take part in military action, and will be fully accredited in Brussels.
The move would improve Colombia’s image on the world stage.
Areas of
cooperation include cyber security, maritime security, terrorism and its links
to organised crime, as well as building the capacities and capabilities of the
Colombian armed forces.
About NATO:
The North
Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was founded in 1949 and is a group of 29
countries from Europe and North America that exists to protect the people and
territory of its members.
§ The
Alliance is founded on the principle of collective defence, meaning that if one
NATO Ally is attacked, then all NATO Allies are attacked.
§ The NATO
lists Afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mongolia, New
Zealand and Pakistan as “partners across the globe”.
What’s important?
For
Prelims AND Mains: NATO and its relevance today.
Sources:
the hindu.
Topic:
Important International institutions, agencies and fora, their structure,
mandate.
Global Wind Summit
Context: The
first edition of the Global Wind Summit will be held in Hamburg, Germany.
About the Global Wind Summit:
§ The
conference on wind is the largest and most important meeting of the wind
industry worldwide. The event combines two conferences, WindEnergy Hamburg and
WindEurope.
§ The event
will provide a platform for experts from across the globe to discuss innovative
and green technologies for harnessing wind energy making.
§ The focus
of the conferences would be on three major subjects. Dynamic markets, cost
efficiency and smart energy. How to develop new markets, make product
competitive in auctions and use wind power for all energy applications.
Background:
India is
fourth largest country — after China, the US and Germany — in terms of wind
energy installation capacity at around 33 GW. The government has set a target
of achieving 60 GW by 2022.
Sources:
the hindu.
Paper 3:
Topic:
Infrastructure- roadways.
Eastern Peripheral Expressway
Context: Eastern
Peripheral Expressway was recently inaugurated by PM Modi.
About Eastern Peripheral Expressway:
§ The 135-
km expressway connects National Highway 1 and 2 from the eastern side of Delhi
and aims to decongest and de- pollute the national capital by diverting
traffic.
§ It
commences near Kundil in Haryana and terminates near Palwal by passing through
Sonepat, Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Noida, Faridabad and Palwal.
§ It is
India’s first highway to be lit by solar power besides provisions of rain water
harvesting on every 500 metres on both sides and would showcase 36 national
monuments and 40 fountains.
§ The
state-of-the-art road will have auto challans for over-speeding as cameras will
capture speed of vehicles. It will also have provisions of tolling only for the
distance travelled. The expressway has an iconic toll plaza at the entry point
on Kundli side besides digital art gallery.
§ Around 2.5
lakh trees have been planted near it, including transplant of 8-10 year old
trees. It also has drip irrigation provision.
Background:
The Eastern
and the Western Peripheral Expressways were planned in 2006 following the apex
court’s order to build a ring road outside the national capital for channelling
the traffic not bound for Delhi.
Sources:
the hindu.
Topic:
nanotechnology.
An air cleaner with potential
Context: Scientists
have developed a nanocomposite material that can selectively convert
environmental carbon monoxide into less toxic carbon dioxide.
About the new material:
§ The new
composite material is made of graphene and an alloy of platinum and palladium
in the form of nanoparticles. Graphene was used as a substrate and then
“decorated” with alloy nanoparticles made of platinum and palladium. The
material was then used for selective oxidation of CO into CO2.
§ The
catalytic behaviour of the nanocomposite was studied using different
morphologies for the oxidation of CO. The conversion rate varied along with the
flow rate of CO as well as temperature, showing full conversion at temperatures
ranging from 75° to 125°.
§ The new
material could find potential use in chemical industries as well as
environmental cleaning.
About Graphene:
§ Graphene
has been touted in the global electronics industry as a “miracle material”
given its strength, electrical conductivity and elasticity, and has been seen
as an alternative to lithium-ion batteries since its discovery in 2004. It is a
form of carbon that can be used to develop smaller, slimmer batteries but with
higher capacity.
§ Graphene
is a carbon material that is one atom thick. Its thin composition and high
conductivity means it is used in applications ranging from miniaturised
electronics to biomedical devices. These properties also enable thinner wire
connections; providing extensive benefits for computers, solar panels,
batteries, sensors and other devices.
§ The
potential applications of graphene include water filtration and purification,
renewable energy, sensors, personalised healthcare and medicine, to name a few.
§ Graphene
has excellent electronic, mechanical, thermal and optical properties as well.
Its uses range from improving battery performance in energy devices, to cheaper
solar panels.
What’s important?
For
Prelims and Mains: Graphene- features and applications, use of nanotechnology
in controlling pollution.
Sources:
the hindu.
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