Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 12 MARCH 2019
::NATIONAL::
Supreme court might refer plea challenging reservation law to
constitutional bench
- The Supreme Court on Monday decided to consider the question
of whether the challenge to the 10% economic reservation law should be
heard by a Constitution Bench. A three-judge Bench, led by Chief Justice
of India RanjanGogoi, scheduled the hearing for March 28.
- The court, however, refused to pass any interim order to stay
or hamper the implementation of the Constitution (103rd Amendment) Act
that provides for 10% reservation in government jobs and educational
institutions to the economically backward in the unreserved category.
- The petitions, mainly one filed by activist Tehseen Poonawala,
said the Act violated the basic features of the Constitution. The
petitioners argued that the 50% ceiling was “engrafted as a part of the
Basic Structure of the Constitution’s equality code” by the court.
- The petition also contended that the term ‘economically weaker
sections’ remained undefined in the Act, along with the “ambiguous” term
of ‘State’. The question of reference came up even as the Centre sought
more time to file its counter.
- “While the impugned amendment attempts to overcome the
applicability of Articles 19(1)(g) and 29(2), it remains silent on
Article 14, which protects the citizens from manifestly arbitrary State
action,” the petition said.
India becomes world’s second largest arms importer
- India was the world’s second largest arms importer from
2014-18, ceding the long-held tag as largest importer to Saudi Arabia,
which accounted for 12% of the total imports during the period.
- “India was the world’s second largest importer of major arms
in 2014–18 and accounted for 9.5% of the global total,” according to the
latest report published by the Stockholm International Peace Research
Institute (SIPRI) on Monday.
- However, Indian imports decreased by 24% between 2009-13 and
2014-18, partly due to delays in deliveries of arms produced under
licence from foreign suppliers, such as combat aircraft ordered from
Russia in 2001 and submarines ordered from France in 2008, the report
stated.
- Pakistan stood at the 11th position accounting for 2.7% of all
global imports. Its biggest source was China, from which 70% of arms
were sourced, followed by the U.S. at 8.9% and, interestingly, Russia at
6%.
- China, which has emerged as a major arms exporter, has
increased its share by 2.7% for 2014-18 compared to 2009-13. Its biggest
customers are Pakistan and Bangladesh.
::ECONOMY::
CRISIL report says uncertain govt.policies hit solar capacity addition
- Inconsistent government actions have cast a shadow over
developer sentiment in the solar sector and slowed down capacity
addition momentum, Crisil said in a report. This will result in the
government achieving only 60% of its 100 GW target by 2022, it added.
- The report said the two main factors increasing cost pressures
for the solar sector included the imposition of the safeguard duty on
solar component imports and the uncertainty over the Goods and Services
Tax treatment of the sector.
- “Clarification on the Goods and Services Tax (GST) procedures
and its implementation for solar was not forthcoming for over a year,
impacting commissioning schedules and project costs across developers,”
the report said.
- “This created further concern, as most projects were set up on
an EPC basis, whether in-house or outsourced,” the report said. “The
issue lacked clarity for over a year, until the GST Council in December
2018 clarified with regardto EPC contracts by setting a ratio of 70:30
of the entire value of the EPC contract, where 70% will be taxed at 5%,
and 30% at 18%, to factor in both the supply and service component.”
- However, this clarification has meant an increased tax
incidence, of about 8-9%, which is higher than the 5% expected by the
industry, leading to an increase in final capital costs.
Survey reports majority workplaces as male-dominated
- For 97% of working women, life has changed post migration,
said a survey by ICICI Lombard on the physical and mental health of
working women through their career span.
- The study surveyed working women in the age group 22-55 years,
covering aspects like migration for work, resuming work post maternity
and women at work facing menopause. The objective of the survey was to
understand issues faced by working women at the workplace.
- While gender equality at the workplace has become a byword in
the corporate sector, the survey has brought forth the fact that 53% of
the working women believe their workplaces are still male-dominated.
- Another interesting facet of the survey was in that 62% of the
respondents believed that recognition at par with male counterparts
notwithstanding, there is a gap when it comes to remuneration. This was
found to be more prevalent in the manufacturing and financial sectors.
- Workplace abuse was an aspect faced more by older women (45-55
years), with a majority of them reporting this to HR (43%), but a
significant lot (32%) also quitting on account of this.
- Migration for work has proved to be a positive change for 97%
of working women, enhancing self-confidence and financial independence.
Cultural shock, though, is a major challenge
- Respondents to the survey relating to menopause revealed that
depression is a common emotion impacting 89% of working women, leading
42% of them to take leave once a month
::INTERNATIONAL::
India holds crucial discussions on terror with four countries
- India on Monday held crucial discussions with Saudi Arabia,
United States, Turkey and the UAE on countering Pakistan-based terror
groups, the Ministry of External Affairs said.
- In a telephone conversation with President RecepTayyipErdogan
of Turkey, Prime Minister NarendraModi reiterated India’s position that
terrorism “remains one of the gravest threats to global peace and
security”.
- Mr Modi also held telephone talks with Crown Prince of Abu
Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan and thanked him for the support from
his side for India’s appearance as a “Guest of Honour” at the recent
ministerial of the OIC where India asked for a united front against
terrorism.
- It was the second such communication in two weeks as the Crown
Prince had earlier called for de-escalation of tension between India and
Pakistan.
- Prime Minister Modi also had a personal meeting with the
visiting Minister of State for Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia Adel bin
Ahmed Al Jubeir on Monday evening. “Prime Minister thanked the
leadership of Saudi Arabia for expressing full solidarity with India in
the fight against terrorism in all its forms and manifestations.
China not agreeing to listMasoodazhar in UN1267 committee
- China on Monday gave no indication that it is likely to change
its stand on Masood Azhar in the UN committee that meets on Wednesday to
vote on designating head of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) group as an
international terrorist.
- In response to a question on Beijing’s position in the
upcoming March 13 meeting of the UN Security Council’s 1267 committee,
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang stuck to the position that
the security council, as the “main body” of the UN system does not take
its decisions superficially. He also signalled that that the die had not
been cast on Azhar’s designation just yet.
- China has on three occasions placed a “technical hold” on
Azhar’s designation as a global terrorist in the 1267 committee. Yet
another attempt on the JeM chief’s designation, led by the United
States, France and Britain, has begun following the February 14 Pulwama
attack. Mr. Lu hinted that China favoured detailed deliberations on the
issue of designation. “Only decisions made through responsible and
serious discussions are the way to solve problems sustainably,” he
observed.
::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::
UN Environment assembly focusses on plastic issue
- Countries from around the world set their sights Monday on a
pivotal deal to curb plastic waste, a source of long-term pollution and
worsening contamination of the ocean’s food chain.
- Thousands of delegates, business leaders and campaigners are
in Nairobi for the five-day UN Environment Assembly, the top annual
forum on the planet’s environmental crisis.
- The UN wants individual countries to sign up to
“significantly” reduce plastic production, including a phasing out of
single-use plastics by 2030 — a goal inspired by the 2015 Paris
Agreement on voluntary reductions of carbon emissions.
- A landmark report due to be out this week is expected to ram
home the warning of the threat to ecosystems from rampant plastic and
chemical waste.
- The Nairobi meeting comes against the backdrop of series of UN
reports outlining in stark terms the damage mankind is doing to the
planet, much of it due to reckless consumption.
- The One Planet Summit on Thursday will bring together heads of
State, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Kenyan counterpart
Uhuru Kenyatta to lend political clout to the process.
::SPORTS::
SAFF women’s championship kicks off in Nepal
- The fifth South Asian Football Federation, SAFF, Women's
Championship kicks off in Biratnagar, Nepal today. Defending champion
India has been drawn in Group B in the six-team competition alongside
Maldives and Sri Lanka, while host Nepal has been kept in Group A with
Bangladesh and Bhutan.
- The opening match will be played between Nepal and Bhutan this
afternoon. Unbeaten in 19 matches from the last four editions, India
will take on Maldives tomorrow. Indian coach Maymol Rocky has expressed
confidence in her side.
