Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 24 October 2018

::NATIONAL::

The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi has approved the constitution of a High Level Steering Committeefor periodically reviewing and refining the National Indicator Framework (NIF) for monitoring of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with associated targets.
Statistical indicators of NIF will be the backbone of monitoring of SDGs at the national and state level and will scientifically measure the outcomes of the policies to achieve the targets under different SDGs.
There is no direct financial implication on implementation of the National Indicator Framework. However, the respective Ministries will need to re-align and strengthen their data systemsto facilitate monitoring of the SDG indicators.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday struck a balance between the interests of the firecracker industry and the right to public health, allowing the manufacture and sale of only “green” and reduced-emission or “improved” crackers, while banning those that are loud and toxic to man, animal and the environment.
A Bench of Justices A.K. Sikri and Ashok Bhushan held that only green or improved crackers would be used during religious festivals and other occasions, including weddings.
The court banned the manufacture, sale and use of joined firecrackers (series crackers or ‘laris’), holding that they caused “huge air, noise and solid waste problems.” The sale of green and improved crackers would be only through licensed traders. It banned online sale through e-commerce websites, including Flipkart and Amazon.
It directed that the public should be informed about the designated places a week before Diwali. Local Station House Officers would be held personally liable and hauled up for contempt if there was any violation of the judgment, including the time slots for bursting crackers or sale of banned crackers.

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs chaired by the Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi has given its approval for creation of special Fisheries and Aquaculture Infrastructure Development Fund (FIDF).
FIDF would provide concessional finance to State Governments / UTs and State entities, cooperatives, individuals and entrepreneurs etc., for taking up of the identified investment activities of fisheries development.
Under FIDF, loan lending will be over a period of five years from 2018-19 to 2022-23 and maximum repayment will be over a period of 12 years inclusive of moratorium of two years on repayment of principal.
The approval entails an estimated fund size of Rs.7,522 crore, comprising Rs.5,266.40 crore to be raised by the Nodal Loaning Entities (NLEs), Rs. 1,316.6 crore beneficiaries contribution and Rs.939.48 crore budgetary support from the Government of India.

The Union Cabinet chaired by Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi has approved the appointment of Adjudicating Authority and establishment of Appellate Tribunal under Prohibition of Benami Property Transactions Act(PBPT), 1988.
The approval will result in effective and better administration of cases referred to the Adjudicating Authority and speedy disposal of appeals filed against the order of the Adjudicating Authority before the Appellate Tribunal.
The Adjudicating Authority and Appellate Tribunal shall sit in the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCTD). Benches of Adjudicating Authority may sit in Kolkata, Mumbai and Chennai, and the necessary notification in this regard shall be issued after making consultation with the Chairperson of the proposed Adjudicating Authority.
Appointment of the Adjudicating Authority would provide first stage review of administrative action under the PBPT Act. Establishment of the proposed Appellate Tribunal would provide an appellate mechanism for the order passed by the Adjudicating Authority under the PBPT Act.

India summoned a senior diplomat from the Pakistan High Commission here on Tuesday and issued a diplomatic note of protest regarding the military casualties suffered on October 21 during a cross-border infiltration attempt from the Pakistani side.
A statement from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) conveyed concern regarding continued infiltration attempts from Pakistan.
The demarche or diplomatic note came a day after Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan called for dialogue on Kashmir in view of the ongoing security situation in Kashmir. India had responded by saying that Pakistan should focus inwards and take “credible action against” terrorism.
The MEA said the latest infiltration bid showed complicity of the Pakistani forces in encouraging violence against India. “Our grave concern at the continuing unprovoked ceasefire violations by the Pakistan forces along the Line of Control (LoC) and the International Border (IB) was also shared.

The Union Cabinet, chaired by the Prime Minister ShriNarendraModi has given its ex-post facto approval for Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed among the BRICS Nations on Environmental Cooperation. The MoU was signed during the 10th BRICS Summit in July, 2018 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
The MoU will enable establishment and promotion of closer and long-term, cooperation between the BRICS countries in the field of environment protection and management of natural resources on the basis of equity, reciprocity and mutual benefits, taking into account the applicable Jaws find legal provisions in each country.
The concerns of rising environmental issues are not limited to any country hut pose a serious challenge to the entire Globe. The MoU acknowledges the responsibility of the BRICS nations, an association of the five major economies of the world i.e.
Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa comprising of more than 40% of the population of the world, towards the protection, preservation and sustainability of the Environment.
The MoU shall facilitate exchange of experiences, best practices and technical knowhow through both public and private sectors among the participating BRICS nations and shall contribute to sustainable development, protection and preservation of Environment.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday expressed shock over the disappearance of 31 hills in the Aravalli area of Rajasthan and asked the State government to stop illegal mining in the 115.34-hectare area there within 48 hours.
The top court said that even though Rajasthan was earning royalty of around Rs. 5,000 crore from mining activities in the Aravallis, it cannot endanger the lives of lakhs of people in Delhi as the disappearance of the hills could be one of the reasons for rise in pollution level in Delhi-NCR.
It also referred to a report of the Central Empowered Committee, which had said that out of 128 samples taken by the Forest Survey of India, as many as 31 hills or hillocks had vanished.
“Around 15%-20% of hills have vanished in Rajasthan. This is your ground truth. Whom you want to take for a ride?,” the Bench asked, adding that the State has failed to protect the Aravalli range from illegal mining.

Caroline Wozniacki overcame a mid-match wobble and withstood a barrage of big hitting to get her WTA Finals title defence back on track with a 7-5, 3-6, 6-2 victory over Petra Kvitova here on Tuesday.