PERIYAR IAS CURRENT AFFAIRS 9-NOVEMBER-2018
Paper 1:
Topic: Indian culture will cover the
salient aspects of Art Forms, Literature and Architecture from ancient to
modern times.
Kailash Yatra via Nathu La to
resume
Context: China has confirmed
restarting of the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Nathu La pass.
Kailash Manasarovar Yatra:
Kailash Mansarovar Yatra (KMY)
is known for its religious importance, cultural significance and arduous
nature. The annual pilgrimage holds religious importance for Hindus, Jains and
Buddhists. The Yatra is organized by the government of India in close
cooperation with the Government of the People’s Republic of China. State
Governments of Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Delhi, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police
(ITBP) and Kumaon Mandal Vikas Nigam Limited (KMVN) are other major Indian
partners of the Ministry in organizing the Yatra.
Facts for Prelims:
Mansarovar Lake is located at an altitude
of 14,950 ft (4,558 m) is said to be the highest freshwater lake in the world.
It is located in the Tibet Autonomous Region, China, 940 kilometres from Lhasa.
To the west of it is Lake Rakshastal and to the north is Mount Kailash.
Nathu La is a mountain pass in the
Himalayas. It connects the Indian state of Sikkim with China’s Tibet Autonomous
Region. It is also one of the four officially agreed BPM (Border Personnel
Meeting) points between the Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army of China
for regular consultations and interactions between the two armies, which helps
in defusing stand-offs.
The four BPM are: Chushul in Ladakh, Nathu
La in Sikkim, Bum La Pass in Tawang district of Arunachal Pradesh, and Lipulekh
Pass in Uttarakhand.
Sources: the hindu.
Paper 2:
Topic: Indian Constitution- historical
underpinnings, evolution, features, amendments, significant provisions and
basic structure.
Separate Flag For Karnataka
Context: A committee formed by the
Karnataka government has recommended a separate flag for the state, discounting
any constitutional or legal hurdles for it. The proposed state flag will be a
tricolour yellow, white and red, with the state’s emblem at the centre.
What next?
The state government will now
seek an amendment to enable provisions of including the Karnataka flag as one
of the symbols in the Flag Code. If the Centre gives its nod to the said
amendment, Karnataka will be the second state in the country to have its own
flag after Jammu and Kashmir, which is allowed the same under Article 370 of
the Constitution.
Are states permitted to have
their own flags?
In S.R. Bommai v/s Union of
India (Supreme Court 1994) case, the Supreme Court has
declared that federalism is a basic feature of the Constitution and States are
supreme in their sphere. This being the Constitutional position, there is no
prohibition in the Constitution for the State to have its own flag. However,
the manner in which the State flag is hoisted should not dishonour the national
flag. It has to be always below the national flag. The national flag code
specifically authorises use of other flags subject to the regulation by the
court. So, State flag is not unauthorised.
Is Karnataka’s move justified?
All the 50 States in the U.S.
have separate and distinct flags, apart from the national flag. In the U.K.,
the political units of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland have
their own flags without offending or affecting the integrity of the U.K. Karnataka
is justified and constitutionally empowered to adopt its own flag to uphold the
pride of the State without infringing the law. Democracy and federalism are
essential features of the Constitution and are part of its basic structure. It
is the democratic right of Karnataka to assert its identity through a separate
name, emblem and flag.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: Statutory, regulatory and
various quasi-judicial bodies.
CCI slaps Rs. 136 cr. fine on
Google
The Competition Commission of
India has imposed a fine of Rs. 136 crore on search engine major Google for
unfair business practices in the Indian market for online search.
Background:
It was alleged that Google was
indulging in abuse of dominant position in the market for online search through
practices leading to search bias and search manipulation, among others.
About CCI:
Competition Commission of India
is a body responsible for enforcing The Competition Act, 2002 throughout India
and to prevent activities that have an adverse effect on competition in India.
It was established on 14 October 2003. It became fully functional in May 2009.
Composition: CCI consists of a
Chairperson and 6 Members appointed by the Central Government.
Functions: The duty of the
Commission is to eliminate practices having adverse effect on competition,
promote and sustain competition, protect the interests of consumers and ensure
freedom of trade in the markets of India. The Commission is also required to
give opinion on competition issues on a reference received from a statutory
authority established under any law and to undertake competition advocacy,
create public awareness and impart training on competition issues.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: India and its neighbourhood-
relations.
Maldives’ ongoing political
crisis
The Maldives is engulfed in a
deepening political crisis, as the introduction of a state of emergency decree
across the holiday islands prompted heavily-armed troops to storm the country’s
top court and arrest a former president.
Background:
Ever since President Yameen
came to power in 2013, he has been jailing almost all the political opposition.
The island nation has been witnessing political unrest and street protests
since former president Nasheed was convicted in 2015 on terror charges and
sentenced to 13 years in jail. He was later allowed to go to Britain for
medical treatment in January 2016. He has lived in exile since and is currently
in Sri Lanka.
What happened now?
The Maldivian Supreme Court had
last week ordered the immediate release of former president Mohamed Nasheed and
other opposition leaders. The Court had also ordered the government to restore
the seats of 12 legislators sacked for defecting from Mr Yameen’s party, giving
the opposition the majority in the assembly which would mean that they could
potentially impeach the president.
However, President Yameen
refused to comply the top court’s orders, despite growing international
pressure and concern, leading to declaration of Emergency in Maldives.
How has the world reacted?
Both former leaders of the
Maldives, Nasheed and Gayoom, have called on India to force Yameen to release
the recently jailed high court judges and political prisoners. While
intervention from New Delhi would certainly be unusual, it is not
unprecedented. India sent troops to the Maldives in 1988 to foil a coup.
Alongside India, the U.S. and
the U.K. have both urged Yameen to honor the rule of law and free the
detainees. Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) human rights chief has warned
that Yameen’s state of emergency decree, which had been used to imprison
perceived political opponents, was undermining the checks and balances
necessary in any functioning democracy.
Facts for Prelims:
§ Maldives is a South Asian
island country, located in the Indian Ocean, situated in the Arabian Sea. It
lies southwest of Sri Lanka and India. The chain of 26 atolls stretches from
Ihavandhippolhu Atoll in the north to the Addu City in the south.
§ Maldives is one of the world’s
most geographically dispersed countries, as well as the smallest Asian country
by both land area and population. It is the world’s lowest country, with even
its highest natural point being the lowest in the world.
§ The Maldives archipelago is
located atop the Chagos-Maldives-Laccadive Ridge, a vast submarine mountain
range in the Indian Ocean, which also forms a terrestrial ecoregion, together
with the Chagos and the Lakshadweep.
Sources: the hindu.
Paper 3:
Topic: Inclusive growth and issues
arising from it.
RBI to link base rate with MCLR
from 1 April
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI)
has proposed to link the base rate for loans with the marginal cost of
funds-based lending rate (MCLR) from 1 April to improve monetary policy
transmission.
Significance of this move:
This is likely to narrow the
gap between the base rate and MCLR, and benefit borrowers who are still using
the base rate.
What necessitated this?
A large portion of bank loans
remain linked to the base rate despite the introduction of the MCLR in April
2016. Weak monetary transmission during a rate cut cycle has been one of the
central bank’s pet peeves.
The MCLR is more sensitive to
monetary policy transmission and is closely linked to the actual deposit rates.
MCLR is calculated on the basis of incremental cost of funds, making it a more
reliable benchmark rate as compared to the base rate, usually calculated by
taking into account average cost of funds.
What is MCLR?
The Marginal Cost of Funds
based Lending Rate (MCLR) system was introduced by the Reserve Bank to provide
loans on minimal rates as well as market rate fluctuation benefit to customers.
This system has modified the existing base rate system of providing home loans.
In this system, banks have to set various benchmark rates for specific time
periods starting from an overnight to one month, quarterly, semi-annually and
annually.
How is it different from base
rate regime?
MCLR is based on the risk
taking capacity of borrowers, where banks prepare marginal cost of funds
lending rates. Unlike base rate regime, these rates are expected to get revised
on monthly basis along with the repo rate including other borrowing rates.
Banks decide the actual lending rate based on the floating rate by adding the
component of spread to MCLR which becomes the final lending rate.
Sources: the hindu.
Topic: awareness in space.
SpaceX Falcon Heavy
Context: SpaceX Falcon Heavy, the
world’s most powerful rocket, was recently launched from the Kennedy Space
Centre in the United States’ Florida toward an orbit near Mars. Falcon Heavy is
being considered mainly as a potential equipment carrier to deep space destinations.
The mission:
The mission is a test flight,
pioneered by rocket firm SpaceX which is helmed by Tesla CEO Elon Musk. The
rocket is loaded with Mr Musk’s own red Tesla roadster. At the wheel is a
mannequin dressed in a spacesuit nicknamed Starman. It is the first time that a
car is being sent to the space.
If the Tesla roadster survives
its five-hour journey through the Van Allen Belt – a region of high radiation
where it will be pelted with charged particles – it will attempt a final burn
toward Mars.
About Falcon Heavy:
Falcon Heavy is the most
powerful operational rocket in the world with the ability to lift into orbit
nearly 64 metric tons – a mass greater than a 737 jetliner loaded with
passengers, crew, luggage and fuel. Only the Saturn V moon rocket, last flown
in 1973, delivered more payload to orbit.
Sources: the hindu.
Facts for Prelims:
Vinay Sheel Oberoi committee:
Defence Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman has constituted a 13-member advisory committee to monitor and
expedite capital acquisition projects for the modernisation of the armed
forces. The committee is headed by Vinay Sheel Oberoi.
The panel will suggest measures
to improve the capital acquisition process. The committee will undertake an
independent review and check the status of ongoing critical projects worth more
than 500 crore rupees.
Tawang gets rhododendron park:
In a bid to conserve the
dwindling rhododendron species of Tawang, a rhododendron park is being
established in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. Over 30 species of rhododendron will
be planted and conserved in the park. It will also have a modern nursery, an
information centre, resting sheds, and a parking facility, among other things.
About Rhododendron: Found in
varied habitats from subtropical forest to alpine shrubs, rhododendrons range
from dwarf shrubs to large trees. The smallest are R. nivale and R. pumilum at
just 10 to 50 cm while the tallest species, R. arboretum grows over 40 metres
tall.
Where they are found? The cold,
moist slopes and deep valleys of the eastern Himalayas form a conducive habitat
for the luxuriant growth of Rhododendron species. Arunachal Pradesh is home to
the highest number with 119 taxa (74 species, 21 sub species and 24 varieties)
of the Rhododendron. The small State of Sikkim is home to 42 taxa (25 species,
11 sub-species and six varieties) while 10 taxa are found in Manipur, four in
Mizoram and 11 in Nagaland.
THE World Rankings 2018:
TIMES Higher Education (THE)
World University Ranking has released the rankings for educational institutes
in Asia and only two Indian institutes have made their way to the top 50 Asian
institutes. A total of 17 institutes from India have made their way to the top
200 Asian Universities. Though representation of India has increased in the
list, several of the universities have fallen down the rankings in comparison
to last year.
The ranks as released by the
THE World University Ranking are:
§ Indian Institute of Science
(IISc) – world rank 29.
§ Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT), Bombay – world rank 44.
§ Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT), Kharagpur – world rank 60.
§ Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT), Roorkee – world rank 65.
§ Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT), Kanpur – world rank 81.
§ Indian Institute of Technology
(IIT), Delhi – world rank 86.
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