Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 01 JANUARY 2020
::NATIONAL::
Govt. to stress on IB reports for CAA
- The home ministry, in consultation with the law ministry, is examining
the types of documents a persecuted minority member from Pakistan will
require while applying for Indian citizenship under the new rules.
- As per the proposed guidelines, there will be separate columns for the
country (Afghanistan, Bangladesh or Pakistan) and community (Hindu, Sikh,
Christians, Parsis, Jains or Buddhist) which the applicant will be required
to declare at the time of seeking citizenship under the newly amended
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA)
- Among the documents that are under consideration are marriage
certificates issued by a gram panchayat or municipal corporation in
Pakistan. The CAA rules, which are yet to be notified, are expected to lay
emphasis on a detailed Intelligence Bureau or Foreigners Regional
Registration Office (FRRO) report.
- The home ministry is expected to notify district collectors, deputy
commissioners and district magistrates for accepting the applications and
recommending citizenship to members of the six minority communities from the
three countries.
New CDS to be appointed
- Chief of Defence Staff, CDS, General Bipin Rawat has said that all the
three services will work as a team. After taking charge as the first CDS,
General Rawat said, as per the task given to the CDS, to enhance integration
and do better resource management will be a priority.
- General Rawat said Armed forces will be strengthened through synergy and
integration. He said CDS will be neutral to all three services. General
Rawat said, how procurement procedure can be unified will be a priority. He
said the armed forces stay away from politics and work as per the directives
of the government of the day.
- General Rawat also said that his focus as CDS will be to integrate the
efforts of the three services and to work as a team.General Rawat said his
focus will be to ensure best and optimal use of resources allocated to the
three services.
- Army Chief Manoj Mukund Naravane, Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh
Bhadauria and Navy Chief Karambir Singh and other senior officers were
present on the occasion.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi has congratulated General Bipin Rawat on
taking over the charge as first Chief of Defence Staff and expressed delight
on India getting its first CDS.
::ECONOMY::
Food Processing industry seeks export sop from government
- The food processing industry has asked the government to give an export
incentive of 20% under the Remission of Duties or Taxes on Export Product (RoDTEP)
scheme.
- It has also asked for the rationalisation of the Goods and Services Tax
(GST) on processed fruits, vegetables and essential daily-need food products
to save wastage of agri-produce.
- He said that they have also requested the government that the new scheme
should provide benefits similar to the Merchandise Exports from India Scheme
(MEIS) scheme at 20% and not reduce the incentive on exports.
- With rising food prices causing substantial negative socioeconomic
effect and political unrest, Jindal said that there was a need to lower the
GST.
- The high taxes on branded food products has led to an increase sale of
food in loose form which is unsafe and unhealthy. This has also reduced
consumption of packaged food, said Jindal.
Monsoon showers bring more water to rabi crops
- The rabi crops of wheat, oilseed, pulses and perishables are likely to
show higher yields across the country this season due to improved
availability of water across 120 key reservoirs monitored by the Central
Water Commission after above normal monsoon rains.
- The availability of water for the crucial months of dry winter is 50%
more than last year and 40% more than the average of the last ten years due
to spurt in rains since August, officials said.
- The current live water storage capacity stands at 137.125 billion cubic
meters compared to 91.34 bcm a year ago. This is 81% of the total live
storage level capacity, 150% of the year-ago level, and 139% of storage of
average of last ten years, Jain said.
- The water storage in reservoirs is more than the last year in states of
Punjab, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal, Nagaland, Gujarat,
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Andhra Pradesh ,TelanganaKarnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
- In eight reservoirs under CWC monitoring in the northern states of
Himachal Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan, the total live storage available is
13.55 bcm, or 71% of capacity, against 67% of capacity a year ago and 57% of
live storage available is 13.55 bcm, or 71% of capacity, against 67% of
capacity a year ago and 57% of live storage capacity on an average in last
10 years.
::INTERNATIONAL::
Taiwan defends anti infiltration law aimed at China
- China has been relentless in its attempts to influence and infiltrate
Taiwan's politics and society, but the island's new ban on political
interference should have no effect on normal exchanges between the
sides.This was stated by Taiwan's President in her New Year's address.
- The Anti-Subversion Law obtained a third and final approval in Taiwan's
legislature today. It aims to prevent illegal campaign contributions,
staging of political events, spread of misinformation and other acts by
foreigners that could affect Taiwan's elections or government work.
- It was denounced by the opposition and by China's Cabinet, but President
Tsai Ing-wen defended it as having no effect on normal interactions. She
said, the law's passage won't have any effect on freedom or violate human
rights, and won't influence normal commercial exchanges.
- Tsai added that it will provide greater guarantees from Taiwan's freedom
and democracy.
- Tsai cited the continuing protests in Hong Kong as proof its governing
framework, which Beijing proposes for Taiwan, is untenable.
Palau bans ‘reef-toxic’ sunscreen
- Palau's pioneering ban on "reef-toxic" sunscreens takes effect today.
The tiny Pacific island nation introduced strict environmental measures.
- Palau is renowned for its marine life and is regarded as one of the
world's best diving destinations. But, the government is concerned this
poses an environmental cost.
- President Tommy Remengesau said there was scientific evidence that
chemicals found in most sunscreens were toxic to corals.
- From New Year's day, any reef-toxic sunscreen imported or sold in Palau
will be confiscated and the owner will be fined. Along with the ban, Palau's
much-touted marine sanctuary came into effect on January 1.
- This closes 80 per cent of its exclusive economic zone to fishing and
other marine activities including mining and shark finning.
- It follows Palau's establishment of the world's first shark sanctuary in
2009.
::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::
ISRO gives confirmation on Gaganyaan mission
- ISRO Chairman Dr. K Sivan has announced that four air men from Indian
Air Force have been identified for India's first manned mission Gaganyan.
- Speaking to media persons in Bengaluru today he said the four chosen
airmen will undergo astronauts' training in Russia from third week of
January. Gaganyan is planned to be launched in 2022 as announced by the
Prime Minister.
- The ISRO Chairman said an unmanned mission will be launched this year to
test human rating of propulsion model and microgravity simulations. Dr.Siven
also informed Chandrayan-3 mission has been approved by the Government.
- This will be launched without an orbiter. He said the lander and rover
will be soft landing in the south pole of the lunar surface. It will carry
out experiments that were planned during Chandrayan-2.
- Dr.Sivan also announced today that a second satellite launch station
will come up in Tutticorin in Tamil Nadu for which 2300 acre land will be
acquired. He said initially small satellites will be launched from here.
ICC plans to scrap five day tests from 2023
- Cricket's apex body, the International Cricket Council, plans to scrap
five-day Tests from 2023. The ICC could make four-day Tests mandatory from
2023 as part of the World Test Championship, primarily to free up the
crowded calendar. Tests have been played over five days through most of
their 140-year history. England has backed the plan.
- A spokesperson of the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) said, it
could provide a sustainable solution to the complex scheduling needs and
players' workloads. BCCI President Sourav Ganguly has said, it was too early
to make a comment on the matter.
