Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 23 JUNE 2019
::NATIONAL::
Loksabha takes up motion of thanks and other important bills
- Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad introduced the Aadhaar and and
Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 in the LokSabha today. It will replace an
ordinance issued in March this year and proposes stiff penalties for
violation of norms.
- The Bill seeks to amend Aadhaar (Targeted Delivery of Financial
and Other Subsidies, Benefits and Services) Act 2016, the Indian Telegraph
Act 1885 and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002. The Bill also
proposes give children an option to exit from the biometric ID programme on
attaining 18 years of age.
- NK Premachandran of RSP opposed the introduction of bill saying
that it violates an earlier Supreme Court judgment and allows private
entities to store. Allaying concerns, Mr Prasad said, Aadhaar is in national
interest and it does not violate privacy.
- The LokSabha has taken up the Motion of Thanks on the President's
address. The motion was moved by Union Minister of State Pratap Chandra
Sarangi. He said the Center and the states should work together for the
progress of the nation.
- The RajyaSabha is also scheduled to take up the motion today.
Newly appointed BJP working President JP Nadda will open the debate in the
Upper House. President Ram NathKovind had addressed the joint sitting of
both Houses on the 20th of this month. The Parliament session will continue
till 26th of July.
CJI seeks removal of Allahabad high court judge
- Months after an in-house panel found an Allahabad High Court
judge, Justice S.N. Shukla, guilty of misconduct, Chief Justice of India
Ranjan Gogoi has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to initiate a
motion for his removal.
- A three-judge committee, comprising Chief Justices Indira Banerjee,
S.K. Agnihotri and P.K. Jaiswal of the Madras, Sikkim and Madhya Pradesh
High Courts, respectively, in January 2018 concluded there was sufficient
substance in the allegations in the complaint against Justice Shukla and
that the aberrations were serious enough to call for initiation of
proceedings for his removal.
- Following the committee’s report, the then Chief Justice of India,
DipakMisra, in accordance with the relevant in-house procedure, advised
Justice Shukla either to resign or seek voluntary retirement.
- “As the allegations against Justice Shukla were found by the
committee to be so serious as to warrant the initiation of proceedings for
his removal, he cannot be allowed to resume judicial work in any High Court.
In these circumstances, you are requested to consider further action,” Chief
Justice Gogoi wrote to the PM.
::ECONOMY::
CII pitches for new national board on jobs
- Pitching for a comprehensive national employment mission, India
Inc on Sunday called for an inter-ministerial and all-State National
Employment Board for driving job creation, while also recommending an
“immediate action” plan, including labour law reforms.
- “The concept of a national minimum wage will affect job creation,
so it is necessary to give States power to fix their own minimum wages,” it
said, adding that the government should fix the minimum wage of unskilled
workers. However, wages of skilled and semi-skilled labour force should be
determined by market forces.
- Under the Prime Minister’s RozgarProtsahanYojana, the wage
threshold should be increased to Rs. 25,000 from Rs. 15,000, it said. The
scheme provides for government contribution to EPF and EPS for new employees
earning less than Rs. 15,000 for three years.
Foreign investments remain bullish in June
- Overseas investors have infused more than 10,000 crore rupees in
the domestic capital markets this month so far, with debt segment accounting
for the lion's share.
- Experts said that equity investments have slowed down on account
of rising geopolitical tensions in West Asia as well as US-India trade
conflict.
- As per the latest depositories data, foreign portfolio investors,
FPIs, pumped in around 552 crore rupees into equities and around 9,761 crore
into the debt market during Jun 3 to 21, taking the cumulative net
investment to 10,313 crore rupees.
- FPIs have been net buyers for the previous four consecutive
months. They invested around 9,031 crore rupees in May, 16,093 crore rupees
in April, 45,981 crore rupees in March and 11,182 crore rupees in February
into the Indian capital markets-both equity and debt.
::INTERNATIONAL::
Women peacekeepers join UN mission in Congo
- A team of women peacekeepers from India has assumed duties in the
UN mission in Congo with a focus on working with women and children worst
affected by conflict.
- The Female Engagement Team from India, comprising nearly 20 women
peacekeepers began its deployment with the United Nations Organisation
Stabilisation Mission Democratic Republic of Congo also known as MONUSCO
which is considered one of the most challenging peacekeeping missions under
the UN flag.
- Military Advisor to the Permanent Mission of India to UN Colonel
SandeepKapoor said, India's deployment of the Female Engagement Team is in
line with Secretary General Antonio Guterres' priority and initiative to
ensure increased participation of women peacekeepers in the UN.
- The Indian brigade is deployed in the North Kivu province of the
African Nation with almost 38 armed groups operating and contesting to
control the areas rich in natural resources. He said, the team will conduct
patrolling and engage with women and locals in that country to gain their
trust.
- They will also undertake civic programmes and assist in conduct of
investigations and riot control among other duties. India is the second
largest troop contributor to MONUSCO, with 2624 peacekeepers and 274 police
personnel deployed as of March this year.
Saudi launches new residency scheme to boost revenue
- Saudi Arabia on Sunday launched a new special residency scheme
aimed at luring wealthy expats as the petro-state seeks to boost non-oil
revenue.
- The scheme offers a permanent residency for 800,000 riyals
($213,000) and a one-year renewable residency costing 100,000 riyals
($27,000), according to the online portal for registrations.
- The move appears to be aimed at boosting non-oil revenue as the
kingdom seeks to diversify its economy.
- Though it was approved by the Saudi Cabinet last month, the portal
began accepting applications on Sunday.Saudi Arabia is currently home to
some 10 million overseas workers.
::SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY::
Indian scientists develop antibodies against chikungunya infection
- The Institute of Life Sciences (ILS), which functions under the
Department of Biotechnology, has entered into a non-exclusive license for
product commercialisation after having successfully developed antibodies
against the Chikungunya viral (CHIKV) infection.
- The antibodies were developed following decade-long research on
the CHIKV infection at the ILS laboratory headed by Dr. Soma Chattopadhyay,
a senior molecular virologist. In fact, Dr.Chattopadhyay has been selected
for the Biotech Product, Process Development and Commercialisation Award
2019 by the Department of Biotechnology.
- The ILS will partner with a biotechnology-based company for
product commercialisation and marketing of antibodies in a 60:40 profit
sharing basis.
::SPORTS::
South east Asian nations to bid for 2034Football world cup
- South-East Asian countries will jointly bid to host the 2034
Football World Cup. Speaking to media after the meeting of ASEAN countries
in Bangkok, Prime Minister of Thailand Prayuth Chan-ocha invited the people
of ASEAN to support the football associations in their countries to host the
tournament.
- The FIFA World Cup has held only once in the continent when Japan
and South Korea were joint hosts in 2002. Qatar will bring it back to Asia
in 2022.
- The ASEAN countries are Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Brunei. ASEAN region
is home to more than 640 million people many of whom follow football avidly.
