Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 19 February 2017

:: National ::

Edappadi K. Palaniswami won the confidence of the assembly in T.N.

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, won the confidence vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly after violence in the House that ended with the eviction of all DMK members.
From the AIADMK, 122 members voted in favour and 11 dissidents voted against the motion.
The House, had to be adjourned twice due to pandemonium as DMK members shouted slogans, demanding that voting be deferred or that a secret ballot be conducted.
The 11 members who voted against the government belonged to the rebel camp led by former Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam.
Mr. Stalin said the MLAs had been lodged in a resort like prisoners and hence they were not in a position to vote in a free manner.
But the Speaker made it clear that he would abide by the Assembly Rules 19(1) and conduct the voting as per his powers, though Mr. Stalin argued that he could adjourn the proceedings under Rule 122 of the House.

Towed artillery to be developed indigenously

Nearly three decades after the controversial Howitzers, manufactured by Bofors, became the mainstay of heavy artillery for the Indian Army, two indigenously developed towed artillery are now in advanced stages of trials to replace them.
The Dhanush, Advanced Towed Artillery Gun System (ATAGS), which has achieved the parameters specified by the Armament Research and Development Establishment, will undergo advance trials soon.
Both are expected to meet the army’s requirement of about 1,800 towed guns by 2018-19, adding that both guns have been developed in less than six years.
Dhanush is a 155 mm/45 caibre gun, which has a range of 40 km, with higher accuracy than Bofors. Of the total 414-guns order from the army, 114 would be supplied in the first phase.
The 155mm/52 calibre ATAGS, a project started by DRDO to supplement Dhanush, is expected to undergo trials in deserts and high altitude range and accuracy trials.
ATAGS, was successfully integrated at Tata Power SED’s facility in Bengaluru recently.

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams is running under heavy loss

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams – the sole custodian of the richest temple of Lord Venkateswara – is groaning under heavy loss by way of sale of its much famed ‘laddus’.
The total loss arising out of the sale of the saccharine balls during the yet-to-be completed financial year alone is expected to cross Rs. 200 crore.
Devotees across the globe attach immense importance to the buying the laddu and savouring it.
The steep increase in the prices of ingredients for making the laddus, the indiscriminate subsidy given on its sale, and the stagnant selling price have contributed to the huge financial deficit.
The cost involved in the making of each laddu (of 175 gm weight) is put around Rs. 33, but the TTD sells it at Rs. 25 incurring a loss of about Rs. 8 on the sale of each laddu.
The management also sells laddus at a throwaway price of Rs. 5 each to all its employees and pensioners (not exceeding 10 laddus in a month) in addition to those attending the daily ‘parakamani’ inside the temple.
While over 85.36 lakh devotees had darshan of the deity by purchasing Rs. 300 ticket during the previous calendar year, about 67.66 lakh devotees had reached the town on foot on two routes.

:: International ::

The Hindu Marriage Bill 2017, adopted by Pak senate

The Hindu Marriage Bill 2017, which is the first elaborate personal law for the minority community in Pakistan, was adopted by the Senate.
The bill had already been approved by the lower house or the National Assembly on September 26, 2015, and it now just needs signature of the President, a mere formality, to become a law.
The bill relates to marriage, registration of marriage, separation and remarriage, with the minimum age of marriage set at 18 years.

With an eye on South-China sea, China to build floating nuclear reactors

With an eye on the South China Sea and offshore oil and gas exploration, China is stepping up construction of floating nuclear reactors.
China will prioritise the development of a floating nuclear power platform in the coming five years, in an effort to provide stable power to offshore projects and promote exploration of oil and gas in the ocean.
Diesel generators are currently the main power source for China’s offshore operations, and the daily lives of residents on the Nansha and Xisha Islands. These are the Chinese names of for the Spratly and Paracel islands.
In 2015, China’s National Development and Reform Commission — the country’s main planning organisation — had approved floating reactor project, steered by the China General Nuclear Power Group (CGN).

:: Science and Technology ::

First DNA computer capable of detecting several antibodies in the blood

Scientists have developed the first DNA computer capable of detecting several antibodies in the blood, paving the way for smart drugs for better delivery of medication for conditions such as rheumatism and Crohn’s disease, with fewer side-effects and at lower cost.
If the camera recognises the person, the door unlocks, but if the person is unknown, the door remains locked.
To be able to perform such an action, ‘intelligence’ is needed, a role that is performed in this system by a DNA computer.
DNA is best known as a carrier of genetic information, but DNA molecules are also highly suitable for performing molecular calculations.
The sequence within a DNA molecule determines with which other DNA molecules it can react, which allows a researcher to programme desired reaction circuits.
To date biomedical applications of DNA computers have been limited because the input of DNA computers typically consists of other DNA and RNA molecules.

:: Business and Economy ::

India-Bangladesh trade affected due to poor connectivity

India-Bangladesh trade ties are troubled by “poor” rail- and river-connectivity at the region bordering Assam as well as a delay in the operationalisation of four “new” ‘border haats’ (or border markets) at the area bordering Meghalaya.
Among other things, the “historic” ceremony of exchange of instruments of ratification of the India-Bangladesh Land Boundary Agreement, 1974 and its 2011 Protocol.
It also resulted in an agreement on several measures to “widen bilateral trade, investment and economic cooperation in a balanced and sustainable manner to mutual benefit but also open up opportunities for regional trade.”
Bangladesh was India’s largest South Asian trading partner in 2015-16 — with bilateral trade worth $6.8 billion that fiscal.
The trade balance was heavily in favour of India with its exports of $6.03 billion to Bangladesh in FY’16. India’s imports amounted to $5.3 billion from that country.
Assam, during a meeting with the Centre last month, said road connectivity in the Bangladesh side for Mankachar Border Trade Point (BTP) “is very poor, and trade is possible only in summers.”
Assam also said dredging of the Brahmaputra River on the Bangladesh side was “essential” to make river vessels route navigable.
According to the Centre, talks are on to augment National Waterway-2 (on the Brahmaputra River at the India-Bangladesh border) and the Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route (related to inland water transit and trade).
Though India wants this proposal to be formulated under South-Asia Sub Regional Economic Cooperation, it has not yet been done due to lack of details on dredging under the Protocol Routes on the Bangladesh side.
On Regional Waterway Project-1 for dredging of rivers with World Bank assistance, India has said it will lend support provided Bangladesh promises that in the said proposal.
Development of India-centric Protocol Route under Indo-Bangladesh Protocol on Inland Water Transit and Trade (PIWTT) would also be considered.
Meanwhile, Meghalaya has informed the Centre that joint inspection for operationalisation of six “new” ‘Border Haats’ was pending due to an inadequate response from Bangladesh.
The Centre said, two of these new border haats are operational and the remaining four are under implementation stage.

TRAI will review the rules of tariff assessment with regard to promotional offers

Telecom regulator TRAI will review the rules of tariff assessment with regard to promotional offers and predatory pricing, issues that have triggered a public spat between Reliance Jio and incumbent operators.
These contentious issues would be debated as part of a consultation paper on ‘Regulatory Principles of Tariff Assessment’ issued by TRAI.
TRAI said the consultation “aims to bring about greater clarity in interpretation of various regulatory principles set out in the Telecom Tariff Order in consonance with the best global practices“.
The industry and other stakeholders have been asked to submit written comments on these issues by March 17, 2017.
The issues to be debated include new measures that need to be prescribed by the regulator to ensure transparency in the tariff offers made by telecom operators, and strengthening of definition relating to “non—discrimination“.
TRAI has sought views on which tariff offers should qualify as “promotional offers” and the need to limit the number of promotional offers that can be launched by an operator in a year one after another.
It also seeks suggestions on definition and criteria for “dominance” in relevant telecom markets.
It will also review the methods and processes that should be applied by the regulator to assess predatory pricing by a service provider in a relevant market.
The review comes amid a standoff between newcomer Reliance Jio and incumbent operators such as Bharti Airtel, Vodafone and Idea Cellular on issues such as predatory pricing, market dominance and extension of promotional offers.
The tribunal is currently hearing a plea by Bharti Airtel and Idea Cellular challenging the regulator’s decision to allow Reliance Jio to continue free promotional offer beyond the stipulated 90 days.