Current Affairs from The Hindu DATE: 27-08-15
S.NO. / NEWS ITEM / SYLLUBUS / ESSENCE OF THE ARTICLE1. / Glaring errors in Indias dossier on Dawood (Pages 1 and 12) / a) I.R / a) In a possibly embarrassing development for the Centre, some of the alleged addresses of Dawood Ibrahim in Pakistan that found their way to the media last week from a dossier prepared by the Home Ministry seem to have glaring errors.
2. / SC suspends proceedings against marines (Pages 1 and 12) / a) I.R / a) Supreme Court suspended all judicial proceedings against the two Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012 after the Indian and Italian govts jointly informed it that an international tribunal had asked for status quo till it cleared the air on which country had the jurisdiction to try the duo.
3. / India-Seychelles pact to curb black money (Page 13) / a) I.R / a) India signed a taxation agreement with the Seychelles for allowing exchange of information to curb tax evasion and avoidance and is looking at strengthening maritime security ties and cooperation on blue economy with the island nation.
4. / Decks cleared for Indias role in Iranian port (Page 12) / a) I.R / a) The decks have been cleared for India to lease and develop strategically important Iranian port of Chabahar. This will provide an alternative route for India to trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
5. / US to collaborate with Sri Lanka at UNHRC (Page 14) / a) International / a) US said it would offer a resolution onalleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka at the September session of the UNHRC in collaboration with the govt of Sri Lanka and other key stakeholders, and also in consultation with members of a core group.
6. / Pentagon probes whether IS intel was distorted (Page 14) / a) International / a) The Pentagons inspector general is investigating allegations that military officials have skewed intelligence assessments about the US-led campaign in Iraq against the Islamic State to provide a more optimistic account of progress.
7. / Historic is still some way away (Page 10) / a) National / a) Clarity of thought and brevity of expression are needed to work out a solution to the Naga issue. The government must refrain from claiming success until a final settlement is worked out and implemented for a problem that has lasted six decades.
8. / Religion data released with little warning, no context (Pgs 1,12) / a) National
b) Social issue / a) Sources in the census office said the events leading to the release of Census data on religion were a departure from the norm and marked by secrecy.
9. / Looming crisis (Page 10) / a) National
b) Economy / a) The crisis-ridden textile sector (being labour-intensive) should have been an ideal candidate for a push as part of the PMs pet Make in India initiative, but as the issues it is mired in remain unresolved, and with losses mounting, the situation is grim.
10. / Women live four years longer than men in India (Page 13) / a) National
b) Social issue / a) A study notes that people in India live significantly longer now compared with 1990. Life expectancy increased by 6.9 years for men and 10.3 years for women between 1990 and 2013.
11. / GSAT-6 will be a game changer (Page 9) / a) National
b) S&T / a) GSLV flight from Sriharikota will have the countrys space community closely watching how the much-needed launch vehicle fares with the home-built cryogenic third stage.
S.NO. / NEWS ITEM / SYLLUBUS / BACKGROUND / IMPORTANT POINTS
1. / Glaring errors in Indias dossier on Dawood (Pages 1 and 12) / a) I.R / a) India – Pakistan relations
b) NSA talks
c) Gurdaspur attacks
d) Ravi river / a) In a possibly embarrassing development for the Centre, some of the alleged addresses of Dawood Ibrahim in Pakistan that found their way to the media last week from a dossier prepared by the Home Ministry seem to have glaring errors.
b) The list was part of a file prepared by the Ministry for NSA Ajit Doval ahead of talks with his Pakistani counterpart, Sartaj Aziz.
c) If talks between Indian and Pakistani NSAs were held last week, India could have presented 10 key pieces of evidence from the Gurdaspur attack to establish that the three Fidayeen militants were from across the border.
d) India planned to tell Pakistani NSA Sartaj Aziz that the three militants had entered India after crossing the Ravi river from near Tash (close to Mastgarh village) in Gurdaspur district.
2. / SC suspends proceedings against marines (Pages 1 and 12) / a) I.R / a) India – Italy relations
b) Marines issue
c) International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) / a) Supreme Court suspended all judicial proceedings against the two Italian marines accused of killing Indian fishermen off the Kerala coast in 2012 after the Indian and Italian govts jointly informed it that an international tribunal had asked for status quo till it cleared the air on which country had the jurisdiction to try the duo.
b) Indian and Italian officials submitted before the Supreme Court that the ITLOS had on August 24 directed for a stay on the proceedings.
c) The Supreme Court acknowledged the governments submissions that international tribunal would go into the question of Indias jurisdiction to try the two Italian marines.
3. / India-Seychelles pact to curb black money (Page 13) / a) I.R / a) India – Seychelles relations
b) Maritime security
c) Blue economy
d) Climate change
e) Paris Climate summit 2015 / a) India signed a taxation agreement with the Seychelles for allowing exchange of information to curb tax evasion and avoidance and is looking at strengthening maritime security ties and cooperation on blue economy with the island nation.
b) After holding talks with the visiting Seychelles President James Alix Michel, PM Modi described the archipelago as a key strategic partner of India, and said agreements in sectors such as agricultural research and space were being signed to deepen engagement.
c) As the Seychelles is considered one of the preferred offshore havens for routing of funds, the Union Cabinet recently approved the signing and ratification of the taxation pact with the island nation to unearth black money.
d) On maritime security, Modi said the two countries had excellent security cooperation in the Indian Ocean region, and India was a partner in providing aircraft, naval vessels and coastal radar systems for strengthening surveillance capacities.
e) An air services agreement signed is expected to enable more and easier connections between the two countries, while cooperation in space, including in the areas of managing land and marine resources, fisheries advisory, weather forecasting and disaster management, is being explored.
f) PM said the bilateral agreement for cooperation on blue economy was a huge step forward in promoting sustainable ocean economy in the region. India (which recently reached out to Pacific Island nations to collaborate with them for combating the challenge of climate change, ahead of the UN Climate Summit in Paris later this year) is looking at partnering with the Seychelles on the issue.
4. / Decks cleared for Indias role in Iranian port (Page 12) / a) I.R / a) India – Iran relations
b) Chabahar port / a) The decks have been cleared for India to lease and develop strategically important Iranian port of Chabahar. This will provide an alternative route for India to trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan.
b) Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said the obstructions that the India-Iran agreement on the port had run into (after it was announced in May), got sorted last week during Iran Foreign Minister visit.
c) Under the MoU, Chabahar port will be used to ship crude oil and urea, greatly reducing transportation costs for importing these two commodities. The port is to be developed via a special purpose vehicle, which will be owned by two sides with an investment of around $85 million. A multi-purpose cargo and container terminal is to be developed at the port.
d) Indias presence in Chabahar will offset the Chinese presence in the Pakistani port of Gwadar. It also takes advantage of the centuries-old connection with Iran, especially at a time when Irans economic sanctions are expected to be lifted, after the nuclear deal it signed with the West.
5. / US to collaborate with Sri Lanka at UNHRC (Page 14) / a) International / a) Sri Lankas Human Rights issue
b) UNHRC / a) US said it would offer a resolution onalleged human rights violations in Sri Lanka at the September session of the UNHRC in collaboration with the govt of Sri Lanka and other key stakeholders, and also in consultation with members of a core group.
b) In May, US Secretary of State John Kerry had hoped thatSri Lanka would continue to cooperate with the UN as it explores best way to mount a credible domestic investigation into allegations of human rights abuses - an investigation that meets international standards.
6. / Pentagon probes whether IS intel was distorted (Page 14) / a) International / a) Islamic State (IS)
b) Syria and Iraq crisis / a) Pentagons inspector general is investigating allegations that military officials have skewed intelligence assessments about the US-led campaign in Iraq against the Islamic State to provide a more optimistic account of progress.
b) Govt officials said he had evidence that officials at US Central Command (the military headquarters overseeing the US bombing campaign and other efforts against IS) were improperly reworking the conclusions of intelligence assessments prepared for policymakers, including President Barack Obama.
c) The prospect of skewed intelligence raises new questions about the direction of the govts war with IS, and could help explain why pronouncements about the progress of the campaign have varied widely.
7. / Historic is still some way away (Page 10) / a) National / a) Naga Peace Accord
b) NSCN (I-M)
c) NSCN (K) / a) After much initial confusion, it is now clear that the Muivah-Ravi agreement or the Peace Accord of Aug 3 on the Naga issue is not a historic accord as was originally claimed by PM Modi and his colleagues.
b) The Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju and the Nagaland Chief Minister Zeliang, have now both clarified that it was only a framework agreement, which means that it is an agreement to pave way for a final settlement by laying out the framework on which it will be worked out.
c) A Naga journalist has quipped that if 18 years has only led to a framework agreement, it left one wondering how much longer the Nagas and India would have to wait for a final settlement. Surely we will need to wait a while because contentious issues still dog the agreement to settle Indias longest running ethnic insurrection. The haze has not yet lifted over many of the contentious issues involved.
d) Rijiju clarified that the Indo-Naga final settlement will be based on concept of shared sovereignty because if India recognises the unique history of the Nagas, the Nagas should recognise Indias problems and limitations. That spirit of give-and-take is most welcome but should not be misconstrued as a compulsion instead of a choice.
e) Shared sovereignty is not a bad idea because it can take Indian federalism forward to new heights. Naga settlement can provide a new benchmark to fulfil autonomist aspirations elsewhere in the Republic and actually strengthen the bonds that hold this huge country together, because shared sovereignty within the Indian constitutional framework is an acceptance of the multiplicity of the Indian identity as a historical fact.
f) A unique federalist solution would mean greater autonomy and more powers to the Naga state (and to other Indian States as well in future), whatever its final territorial shape is. But, Muivahs insistence that they have not given up on Nagalim does complicate the scenario.
g) The Assam CM Tarun Gogoi, and the Manipur CM Okram Ibobi Singh, have already issued warnings that they will oppose any final agreement on Naga issue that has adverse impacts on interests of their respective States. So, the Indian govts interlocutor R.N. Ravi and Muivah will have to work hard to find a non-territorial solution to meet Naga aspirations of unity and one that does not upset neighbouring Assam and Manipur.
h) The secrecy surrounding the Aug 3 accord is understandable because the claims about it do not clearly match what was achieved. So, unlike all the previous accords the Indian govt signed (like in Punjab, Assam, Mizoram and, finally, Tripura, between 1985 and 1988), the August 3 accord was kept under wraps. Secrecy only causes speculation and makes no sense in a democracy like India, where even a framework agreement should be subjected to some public debate.
i) It was a good idea to send a group of Naga elders and lawmakers to Myanmar to speak to the Myanmar Naga rebel leader S.S. Khaplang and get him to accept agreement. This was a smart move by the Modi administration - instead of outlawing the Khaplang group of NSCN as was initially proposed. Now, India has asked Myanmar to hand over Khaplang and three of his commanders to India for their involvement in the attacks.
j) Myanmar was trying to help India in facilitating a dialogue with Khaplang. Myanmar has some stake in Indias quest in finding its own Naga solution because it expects the impact of that to rub off on Naga areas in Myanmar which the Thein Sein govt in Myanmar is trying to control after years of failure. But now, New Delhis move to have Khaplang and his commanders handed over to stand trial in India makes it difficult for Myanmar.
k) The trans-national and trans-border nature of the Naga problem has not only helped fuel Naga insurgency for six decades but also complicated the issue, making it difficult for final settlement to be achieved.
l) The Modi administration must refrain from temptations to claim success for a problem that has defied solution for six decades - surely not until a final settlement is worked out and implemented. Clarity of thought and brevity of expression are needed to work out a solution to Indias longest running ethnic insurrection.
8. / Religion data released with little warning, no context (Pages 1 and 12) / a) National
b) Social issue / a) Population
b) Census of India 2011 / a) Sources in the census office said the events leading to the release of Census data on religion were a departure from norm and marked by secrecy.
b) One of reasons cited for not holding a press conference this time to announce religious data was a controversial statement made by Banthia during the release of the report. He had said low literacy rate and low participation among the Muslim females were some of the reasons for the high growth of Muslim population. In 2004, the growth of Muslim population was 36 percent and that of Hindus 20.3 percent.
9. / Looming crisis (Page 10) / a) National
b) Economy / a) Textile sector
b) Make in India
c) Minimum Support Price (MSP)
d) National Textile Policy
e) Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme / a) The crisis-ridden textile sector (being labour-intensive) should have been an ideal candidate for a push as part of the PMs pet Make in India initiative, but as the issues it is mired in remain unresolved, and with losses mounting, the situation is grim.
b) Nearly half of Indias power looms are at a standstill: the spinning industry in the northern and southern regions has pressed in shutdowns of as much as 15 to 20 percent of production capacity. The textile industry as a whole is reeling under high input and transaction costs.
c) Cotton was cheaper in India this year initially. But the Cotton Corporation of India for several months sold the good-quality produce procured in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and parts of Maharashtra at prices higher than international levels, making Indian cotton uncompetitive.
d) Tinkering with the cotton market through MSP operations must be avoided. Instead, direct cash subsidy benefit to farmers could help reform the sector. China has also decided to go in for direct subsidies to cotton growers, with its textile industry free to source cotton at international prices.
e) Technology Upgradation Fund Scheme that was originally brought in by Atal Bihari Vajpayee govt and launched in 1999, is a ready framework available to the Centre to address the needs of the textile sector. The scheme will expire in March 2017. It should be extended.
f) A comprehensive National Textile Policy must be announced at the earliest to create a level playing field with regard to tariff rates, raw material costs, cost of funding and transaction costs. Conversely, a healthy textile sector could potentially create millions of jobs.
10. / Women live four years longer than men in India (Page 13) / a) National
b) Social issue / a) Life expectancy
b) Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
c) Ischemic heart disease
d) Census of India 2011 / a) A study (published in the British medical journal The Lancet)notes that people in India live significantly longer now compared with 1990. Life expectancy increased by 6.9 years for men and 10.3 years for women between 1990 and 2013.
b) Healthy life expectancy too is for women. For men, it increased from 50.07 in 1990 to 56.52 in 2013, while for women it rose from 50.15 to 59.11. Ischemic heart disease, COPD, lower respiratory tract infections, tuberculosis and neonatal disorders caused the most health loss.
11. / GSAT-6 will be a game changer (Page 9) / a) National
b) S&T / a) GSLV
b) GSAT-6 / a) GSLV flight from Sriharikota will have countrys space community closely watching how the much-needed launch vehicle fares with home-built cryogenic third stage.
b) The 2117-kg GSAT-6 is a predominantly S-band communication satellite that enables multimedia applications. It will be used purely for strategic purposes by the Armed Forces and for societal uses during a disaster or an emergency.
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