Current Affairs from The Hindu DATE:21-03-15

S.NO. / NEWS ITEM / SYLLUBUS / ESSENCE OF THE ARTICLE
1. / Nuclear deal: India, US exchanging texts of administrative arrangements (Page 12) / a) I.R / a) India and US are currently exchanging the signed texts of the administrative arrangements finalised during US President Obamas visit to India in Jan for civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries.
2. / Iran nuke talks to resume on March 25 (Page 14) / a) International / a) Official said that while some disputes remain, negotiators are expected to finish their main work during current round and even before talks resume on March 25.
3. / Putin sends out message with military drills (Page 14) / a) International / a) Huge Russian military drills ordered by President Putin from the Pacific to the Black Sea are designed to send a message to the West – keep your distance and do not overplay your hand on Ukraine.
4. / National policy for Upper Houses? (Page 10) / a) National
b) Polity / a) The desirability of a bicameral legislature at the State level has been debated since the days of the Constituent Assembly and recent developments may revive the debate.
5. / Coal, mines Bills cleared as govt has its way (Page 1) / a) National
b) Polity / a) Parliament cleared both the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2015 and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill 2015.
6. / Black money Bill tabled in Lok Sabha (Page 12) / a) National
b) Polity / a) Union Finance Minister introduced the Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill 2015 in the Lok Sabha.
7. / Unlocking growth through labour reforms (Page 11) / a) National
b) Social issue / a) The primary policy challenge is to increase employability and help shift labour from agricultural to non-agricultural jobs.
8. / Mars Orbiter still going strong (Page 9) / a) S&T / a) The Mars Orbiter will complete half a year around the Red Planet and is going strong.
9. / Scientists planning audacious space mission (Page 20) / a) S&T / a) Scientists are proposing to send a robot submarine to the oily seas of Saturns moon Titan.
S.NO. / NEWS ITEM / SYLLUBUS / BACKGROUND / IMPORTANT POINTS
1. / Nuclear deal: India, US exchanging texts of administrative arrangements (Page 12) / a) I.R / a) India – US relations
b) Civil nuclear agreement
c) Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act 2010 / a) External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson said that India and US are currently exchangingthe signed texts of the administrative arrangements finalised during Obamas visit to India in January for civil nuclear cooperation between the two countries.
b) Administrative arrangements related to the monitoring, handling, inspection and safeguard of the nuclear material procured from the US.
c) In addition the India-US nuclear contact group met and acknowledged that all policy hurdles no longer exists and they are now focussed to better commercial prospects of deal.
2. / Iran nuke talks to resume on March 25 (Page 14) / a) International / a) US – Iran nuclear deal
b) Irans uranium enrichment program
c) P5+1 group / a) Russian negotiator said that while some disputes remain, negotiators are expected to finish their main work during the current round and even before the talks resume on March 25.
b) The US and Iran are drafting elements of a deal that commits Tehran to a 40 percent cut in the number of machines it could use to make an atomic bomb. In return, the Iranians would get quick relief from some crippling economic sanctions and a partial lift of a UN ban on conventional arms.
c) Agreement on those details of Irans uranium enrichment program could signal a development for a larger deal aimed at containing the Islamic Republics nuclear activities.
3. / Putin sends out message with military drills (Page 14) / a) International / a) Russias takeover of Crimea
b) Ukraine crisis
c) Black Sea / a) Huge Russian military drills ordered by President Putin from the Pacific to the Black Sea are designed to send a message to the West - keep your distance and do not overplay your hand on Ukraine.
b) Since the start of the Ukraine crisis more than a year ago, Russia has flexed its muscles with a series of war games but the scale of the latest military exercises (including sending nuclear bombers to Crimea and ballistic missiles to Kaliningrad in central Europe) has caused a series of new questions.
c) Military analysts said Russia was following a two-pronged strategy - using nuclear blackmail to try to press the West into making concessions among sanctions over Ukraine while making sure its forces are ready for any full-scale military confrontation.
d) These are preparations for a possible nuclear conflict for a big war with Europe and for a global nuclear war with America.
4. / National policy for Upper Houses? (Page 10) / a) National
b) Polity / a) Bicameral system
b) Constituent Assembly
c) Legislative Council
d) All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)
e) Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam / a) The desirability of a bicameral legislature at the State level has been debated since the days of the Constituent Assembly, and recent developments may revive the debate.
b) Assam and Rajasthan want to join the small seven-member club of States (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, J&K, Karnataka, Maharashtra and UP) with a Legislative Council in the country and Odisha is also examining the creation of one.
c) Its advocates say wiser counsel from an upper House of elders is needed to temper the often fractious nature of the debate in the Lower House. Also, the second chamber helps in accommodating more sections of society in the process of legislation and decision-making.
d) There is little doubt that a second chamber will be a useful forum to play an advisory role in legislative matters. However, the fact remains that it can also be a tool in the hands of those in power to accommodate their favourites or defeated party functionaries. Also, there is no consensus even within States on its necessity.
e) In Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK abolished the Council in 1986 and strongly opposes moves by its rival DMK to revive it. Parliament has already passed legislation to revive the chamber in Tamil Nadu but it is yet to be implemented.
f) In Andhra Pradesh, the TDP govt abolished the Council in 1985 but a Congress regime revived it in 2007.
g) A parliamentary committee (examining the Rajasthan and Assam bills relating to creation of the Legislative Council) suggested that there should be a national policy on having a permanent second chamber so that a subsequent government cannot abolish it at its desire.
h) This is a better way to address the issue instead of depending on tendency. While framing such a policy, it will also have to be decided whether the time and resources involved in having a second chamber is worth the while.
5. / Coal, mines Bills cleared as govt has its way (Page 1) / a) National
b) Polity / a) Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2015
b) Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill 2015
c) Land Bill
d) Lok Sabha
e) Rajya Sabha
f) Parliament / a) Parliament cleared both the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill 2015 and the Coal Mines (Special Provisions) Bill 2015, two days after the select committees submitted their reports to the Rajya Sabha.
b) Referring to the Land Bill cleared by the Lok Sabha, Parliamentary Affairs Minister said that it will be taken up in the Rajya Sabha during the next phase of the session.
6. / Black money Bill tabled in Lok Sabha (Page 12) / a) National
b) Polity / a) Black money
b) Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill 2015
c) Income Tax Act
d) Income Tax Appellate Tribunal / a) Union Finance Minister introduced the Undisclosed Foreign Income and Assets (Imposition of Tax) Bill 2015 in the Lok Sabha.
b) The Bill(aiming to bring in a comprehensive new law for specifically dealing with black money stored abroad) also provides for a separate taxation of such money.
c) According to an official release, Undisclosed income abroad will no longer be taxed under the Income Tax Act. Tax on all foreign income will have to be paid at the flat rate of 30 percent without any exemption, deduction, set off or carry forward losses that the Income Tax Act permits.
d) It provides for criminal liability with increased punishment of jail for 3-10 years for wilful avoidance of tax on foreign income along with a penalty equal to three times the amount of tax avoided or 90 percent of the undisclosed income or the value of the asset.
e) The right to appeal will be to the Income Tax Appellate Tribunal and to jurisdictional High Courts and the Supreme Court on substantial questions of law.
f) It also empowers the Centre to enter into agreements with other countries for the exchange of information, recovery of tax and avoidance of double taxation.
7. / Unlocking growth through labour reforms (Page 11) / a) National
b) Social issue / a) Labour reforms
b) Population
c) Compounded annual growth rate (CAGR)
d) National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC)
e) Indira Kranti Patham
f) MGNREGA / a) Over 25 percent of the worlds workers are Indian. And 300 million young people are set to enter the labour force by 2025. With an average age of 29, Indias population is in the middle of a demographic boom.
b) By 2020, when the global economy is expected to run short of 56 million young people, India (with a youth surplus of 47 million) could fill the gap. It is in this context that labour reforms are often cited as the way to unlock double-digit growth in India.
c) In 2014, Indias labour force was estimated to be about 40 percent of the population but 93 percent of this force was in the unorganised sector, ranging from vegetable vending to diamond trading. Over the last decade, the CAGR of employment has slowed to 0.5 percent, with 13.9 million jobs created in 2012 when the labour force increased by 14.9 million.
d) The primary policy challenge is to increase the employability of our labour force. And to shift labour from agricultural to non-agricultural jobs (where there is a projected need for 120 million skilled hands) along with social security measures.
e) Average daily wage rates are quite low in rural and urban areas.Rurban jobs dont offer much better.Benefits are equally minimal.Women have difficulty participating in the industrial labour force.
f) Indias labour law regime has always been at controversy with industrial development and the ease of doing business.
g) Labour reforms must be linked to the ease of doing business, creating a habitat where jobs can be promoted. Reforms must be linked to worker benefits, while simultaneously easing the compliance burden on small and medium enterprises.
h) The labour law must be rationalised by defining minimum wages and linking them to inflation. Minimum wages ought to be revised annually with penalties for their violation dramatically raised.
i) According to the NSDC, we need 120 million skilled people in the non-farm sector. Amendments to the Apprenticeship Act are welcome. MGNREGA should be restructured and linked to apprenticeship programmes in industry and agriculture.
j) Women workers require legislation too. Female employees of govt schemes like Indira Kranti Patham or Anganwadi Worker remain out of the purview of laws. Scheme-based workers should be treated as regular employees and offered decent wages and social security.
k) A modern labour law that encourages employers to keep more workers in formal roles, with work-linked wages and social security benefits is vital. Indias push towards urbanisation and development must address both businesses and workers.
8. / Mars Orbiter still going strong (Page 9) / a) S&T / a) Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM)
b) Red Planet / a) The Mars Orbiter will complete half a year around the Red Planet and is going strong.
b) In the six months, the orbiter has been taking Martian surface pictures from distances of around 500 km to 70,000 km. It has mapped the terrain, studied the chemicals present, looked for methane, a sign of ancient or present life and got a ringside view of a passing comet in October.
c) Mars has moved further from earth and is about 346 million km away. MOM left earth on Dec 1 2013. Its signals take 19 minutes to reach Earth one-way, longer than the 11 minutes when it entered the Martian orbit six months ago.
d) Indian spacecraft have outlived their lifespan by a few years but these were operating closer home at up to 36,000 km from ground. It looks like MOM can go on for at least another six months.
9. / Scientists planning audacious space mission (Page 20) / a) S&T / a) Saturns moon Titan
b) Unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) / a) Dropping a robotic lander on the surface of a comet was arguably one of the most bold space achievements of recent times.
b) Scientists are proposing to send a robot submarine to the oily seas of Saturns moon Titan. The seas are filled not with water but with hydrocarbons like methane and ethane. These compounds exist in their liquid state on the moon, where the temperature averages 180 degrees Celsius.
c) Titan resembles a deep frozen version of Earth, making it an attractive target for exploration.
d) UUVs are now widely used for military purposes in oil exploration and scientific investigation.
e) One of the most striking aspects of the proposal is a plan to deliver the sub in a variant of the US militarys secretive mini-space shuttle, the X-37B.
f) The sub would fit in the payload bay of the unmanned shuttle, with the stack then launched on a rocket. Once at Titan, the shuttle and its payload would move down through the moons humid atmosphere.

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