Current Affairs for SSC CGL Exams - 23 August 2017

::National::

With a historic 3:2 majority judgment SC has set aside Triple Talaq

• A historic 3:2 majority judgment, delivered by a multi-faith Constitution Bench, set aside instant talaq as a “manifestly arbitrary” practice not protected by Article 25 (freedom of religion) of the Constitution.
• On the five-judge Bench, Justices Kurian Joseph and Rohinton Fali Nariman gave separate judgments against the validity of instant talaq.
• Justice U.U. Lalit supported Justice Nariman’s view that instant talaq given by a Muslim man “capriciously and whimsically,” without an attempt at reconciliation, was “manifestly arbitrary and violative of Article 14 (right to equality).”
• The triumvirate of Justices Kurian, Nariman and Lalit overwhelmed the minority verdict pronounced by Chief Justice of India J.S. Khehar and endorsed by Justice S. Abdul Nazeer, the juniormost judge on the Bench.
• Chief Justice J.S. Khehar held that talaq-e-biddat , as a personal law practice, was an integral part of Article 25 (freedom of religion). Ninety per cent of Muslims in India follow the practice. It was constitutionally protected as a fundamental right, he said.
• The Chief Justice reasoned that talaq-e-biddat was in vogue for over 1,400 years, and this made instant talaq a “matter of religious faith,” which cannot be tested on the touchstone of Article 14.
• He held that personal laws like instant talaq were an 'exception' to the Constitution's avowed aim to protect gender equality.
• But Justice Nariman countered that Section 2 of the Muslim Personal Law (Shariat) Application Act of 1937 has already recognised triple talaq as a statutory right and not a fundamental right.
• Instant talaq was no longer a personal law to remain free from the rigours of the fundamental rights as it comes under the ambit of Article 13 of the Constitution, he said.
• Article 13 mandates that any law, framed before or after the Constitution, should not be violative of the fundamental rights.
• Objecting to the Chief Justice's line of reasoning, Justice Kurian, in his separate verdict, held that “merely because a practice ( talaq-e-biddat ) has continued for long (over 1,400 years), that by itself cannot make it valid”.
• The Chief Justice had reasoned that instant talaq cannot be invalidated just because the Koran does not expressly provide for or approve of it. Talaq-e-biddat , though bad in theology, was considered good in law, he held.
• Justice Kurian also referred to Section 2 of the Shariat Act, observing that the statute had put an end to the “unholy, oppressive and discriminatory customs and usages in the Muslim community. After Shariat Act, no practice against the tenet of Islam is permissible.”

All parties welcomed the Supreme Court judgment on instant talaq

• In a rare show of convergence, the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Congress and the Left parties welcomed the Supreme Court judgment on instant talaq and termed it a step towards gender justice and empowerment of Muslim women.
• Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the judgment as “historic,” and one that would empower women. “Judgment of the Hon’ble SC on Triple Talaq is historic. It grants equality to Muslim women and is a powerful measure for women empowerment,” he said.
• Welcoming the verdict, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi said, “I congratulate the women who fought for it.”
• At the regular briefing of the Congress, the party’s communication chief Randeep Surjewala called triple talaq an “aberration and adulteration” of the provision of talaq as mentioned in the Holy Koran.

US commits troops in Afghanistan for an open-ended period of time

• The new U.S. strategy for South Asia, unveiled by President Donald Trump after months of deliberations, has many old elements, but in a departure from the past, it commits troops in Afghanistan for an open-ended period of time.
• The policy also sets the stage for a new wave of U.S. offensive against Islamist forces in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• The Pentagon and NATO allies are redrawing their operational plans in America’s longest war that began in 2001, and an increase in troop levels is expected soon.
• Describing India as “a key security and economic partner of the United States,” the President said America would further “develop its strategic partnership with India — the world’s largest democracy.”
• He also urged India to play a larger role in providing economic and development assistance to the war-torn Afghanistan.
• In another component of his South Asia policy that pleases India, he said America would no longer tolerate Pakistan’s policy of harbouring terrorists.
• Hitting out at cross-border terrorism from Pakistan, India welcomed U.S. President Donald Trump’s new policy on Afghanistan and said his move would help target “safe havens” of terrorism in South Asia.
• Senior diplomats said the American leader’s call for an end to Pakistan’s involvement in terrorism in Afghanistan and his support for Afghan-led peace process had addressed a core Indian concern.
• Mr. Trump urged India to do more to help Afghanistan with its developmental needs and urged Pakistan to stop terror attacks that originate from its territory.

::International::

U.S. linked a proposal for India playing a bigger role in Afghanistan

• President Donald Trump, who announced his new Afghan strategy, linked a proposal for India playing a bigger role in the war-torn country to its trade surplus with the United States.
• “We appreciate India’s important contributions to stability in Afghanistan, but India makes billions of dollars in trade with the United States, and we want them to help us more with Afghanistan, especially in the area of economic assistance and development,” he said.
• By inviting India to be a partner in Afghanistan, Mr. Trump has entirely overruled Pakistan’s position that India’s involvement to its west is part of the problem.
• The President, who repeatedly took potshots at his predecessor, Barack Obama, without naming him, however, appeared to follow the previous administration’s understanding of South Asia as a nuclear flash point.
• Defense Secretary James Mattis had recently said America was “not winning” in Afghanistan.
• The President said America will fight the war to victory and defined victory in terms similar to his predecessors — to prevent a terrorist attack originating from the region, and to politically stabilise Afghanistan.
• The new strategy in Afghanistan, which seeks troops increase in the country, is an effort to reverse the gains made by the Taliban in the last year or so.
• Once the Afghan government regains the upper hand, the U.S. will seek a political settlement, the President said.
• Secretary of State Rex Tillerson explained the new U.S policy as an effort to force the Taliban to negotiation.

::Business and Economy::

Discussions are at a ‘well-advanced’ stage for Australia’s uranium sale to India

• Discussions are at a ‘well-advanced’ stage for Australia’s uranium sale to India, to fuel nuclear power plants in the energy-starved developing nation, according to an Australian government body’s top official.
• Dismissing allegations that uranium supply was facing ‘delays’ due to the Australian coal mining sector ‘lobbying’ to protect its interests, the official, however, said coal exports will not slow down any time soon from Australia for use in India’s thermal power stations.
• Rejecting reports regarding the alleged efforts by Australian coal mining sector to ‘delay’ uranium supply to India, Ms. Muldoon said, “It’s [the allegations] more of a domestic issue in Australia... it’s not appropriate for me to comment.”
• She said Mr. Turnbull and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a one-on-one meeting in April as they were enthusiastic about energy and energy solutions.
• On the reported environmental concerns over such mining projects, Ms. Muldoon said, “In Australia, we have very tough environmental regulations. Therefore, Australian companies have developed a range of technology solutions to deal with these aspects and to ensure that the environment remains protected.

SEBI said it is keeping a close watch on the share price movement of Infosys

• Markets regulator SEBI said it is keeping a close watch on the share price movement of Infosys, which saw CEO Vishal Sikka quitting last week.
• Shares of Infosys plunged by almost 10% on Friday, wiping out Rs. 22,519 crore from its market valuation, after Mr. Sikka’s resignation. It fell further by more than 5% on Monday despite buyback announcement by the company.
• The country’s second-largest IT services firm on Saturday said that its board had approved a share buyback offer of up to Rs. 13,000 crore. “We are keeping a watch on Infosys share prices,” SEBI Chairman Ajay Tyagi said.

Indian Tea Association (ITA) has sought a revival package for the industry

• Estimating a Rs. 400-crore loss to the Darjeeling tea industry due to prolonged closure, the Indian Tea Association (ITA) has sought a revival package for the industry, including moratorium on long-term loans and interest-subsidies.
• In an appeal to the Govt, ITA said that the Darjeeling tea industry had already incurred an estimated crop loss of about 4.5 million kg due to the more than two-month-long strike called by the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha.
• ITA secretary general Arijit Raha feared a loss in the export market for Darjeeling tea as importers/international blenders and packeteers may be compelled to replace Darjeeling tea with leaves sourced from other origins.
• ITA has sought relief on repayment of loans by a two-year extension and 6% interest subsidy. The industry’s loan exposure is about Rs. 500 crore and the interest subsidy is estimated at about Rs. 30 crore annually.
• Additionally, ITA also sought expeditious settlement of pending subsidy claims for the development works, enhancement of the 3% export incentive rate, and waiver of fees on certificate of origin (payable to the Tea Board).
• However , the Darjeeling Tea Association has not yet finalised its revival package, saying it would need further discussions with the Tea Board. The loss assessments were, however, close to the ITA estimates.

Click Here for Daily Current Affairs Archive

Click Here for Study Material for SSC CGL Exam

Click Here to Join Online Course for SSC CGL Exam