CSL completes delivery of 20 FPVs to India Coast Guard

The Cochin Shipyard Limited (CSL) has delivered ICGS AYUSH, the 20th Fast Patrol Vessel (FPV) to the Indian Coast Guard. With this, CSL has completed construction of 20 FPVs for the Indian Coast Guard. ICGS Ayush will be operated from the Coast Guard Station at Krishnapatanam. It is last in the series (CSL Yard No BY 520) and was delivered three months ahead of schedule. 

Background

Cochin Shipyard Limited was awarded the contract of constructing 20 FPVs in October 2010. CSL had delivered the first vessel in September 2013 and subsequently delivered vessels at about two months interval. CSL started delivering vessels ahead of schedule from the 13th vessel onwards. These vessels are 50 metre length and 7.6 metre beam. They are small in size compared to the large vessels that CSL had been building. 

Fast Patrol Vessels (FPVs)

The FPVs will help to secure Indian waters by patrolling within Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), coastal patrol. They will be used to carry out anti-smuggling, anti-piracy, search and rescue operations and for fisheries protection and monitoring. They will also play a secondary role of providing a communication link and escort coastal convoys in times of hostilities and war.

CBDT extends deadline of Direct Tax Dispute Resolution Scheme

The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has extended the last date for availing the Direct Tax Dispute Resolution Scheme to January 31, 2017 from the earlier deadline of December 31, 2016. This extension aims to give companies one more month to accept its offer to settle retro tax disputes with Government. It comes against the backdrop of tepid response from companies to the scheme. 

About Direct Tax Dispute Resolution Scheme

The scheme was announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in the 2016-17 Budget and came into force on June 1, 2016. It provides for waiving interest and penalties if the principal amount involved in retrospective tax cases is paid. It aims at releasing about Rs. 5.16 lakh crore, which is locked in about 2.6 lakh pending direct tax cases. Under it, a disputed tax amount of up to Rs 10 lakh and the penalty will be forgone. However, in cases where the disputed tax amount is above Rs 10 lakh, a penalty of 25% will be levied. It waives of the interest and penalty for retrospective tax cases only if the company in question withdraws all appeals against the government at all judicial forums. Through the scheme, the government hopes to settle major retrospective tax cases facing Cairn Energy of UK and Vodafone Group. It also expects a third of the other tax disputes to be settled.

RBI extends period of enhanced Prepaid Payment Instruments limit

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the period of enhanced Prepaid Payment Instruments (PPI) limit of Rs 20,000 as part of efforts to promote digital payments. The limit has been extended till the completion of review of the PPI guidelines. However, the balance in such PPIs cannot exceed Rs 20,000 at any point of time and the merchants can transfer funds from such PPIs to their own linked bank accounts up to Rs 50,000 per month, without any limit per transaction. 

About PPI

PPIs are methods that facilitate purchase of goods and services against the value stored on such prepaid instruments. These instruments can be issued as online wallets, mobile accounts, mobile wallets, smart cards, magnetic stripe cards, internet accounts, paper vouchers and any such instruments used to access the prepaid amount. The value stored on such instruments represents the value paid for by the holder, by debit, by cash to a bank account or by credit card.At present, 47 non-bank entities and 45 banks are operating payment systems for PPI.

Colombia passes FARC amnesty law

Colombia’s Congress passed a law granting amnesty to Marxist FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) rebels as part of historic peace deal reached between rebels and Government. The Senate passed the bill 69-0 votes after the House of Representatives approved it by 121-0 votes. This is another step to formally end to 52 years of Columbian civil war (Latin America’s longest conflict). The law grants special legal treatment, amnesty and pardons to members of the FARC accused of political and related crimes. It does not apply to FARC rebels accused of offenses such as war crimes, rape, torture and extrajudicial killings. 

Background

The amnesty bill was part of a renegotiated peace pact signed between Government and rebels on November 24, 2016 to end the conflict after nearly four years of negotiations. They had renegotiated the peace deal after voters rejected an earlier peace deal (signed in September 2016) by a narrow margin in the referendum held in October 2016. The Colombian Government had decided to ratify the amnesty bill in Congress rather than risk a second referendum. 

About Colombian Civil War

Colombia civil war is one of the longest civil wars in modern times and was the sole remaining armed conflict in the South (Latin) America. The five decade long civil war has killed more than 2,60,000 people and internally displaced close to seven million people. It was started in the 1960s as a rural uprising for land rights by FARC as communist-inspired guerrilla movement inspired by Cuban Revolution. The main aim of FARC was to reduce the gulf dividing rich and poor and land reform for equality in the Andean country. Over the decades, the conflict has drawn in various leftist rebel groups, drug gangs and right-wing paramilitaries. However in recent times, the FARC had shifted from their original ideology and were active in illegal drug trade, kidnapping and extortion activities.

President gives assent to Payment of Wages (Amendment) Ordinance, 2016

President Pranab Mukherjee has given assent to Payment of Wages (Amendment) Ordinance, 2016, to enable industries to pay wages by cheque or credit into the bank accounts of workers. The ordinance amends the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 to encourage cashless transactions. With this assent the ordinance becomes law as per article 123 of the Constitution. 

Key Provisions of Ordinance

Allows industries to pay wages to workers earning up to Rs. 18,000 per month, without taking their explicit consent as required under present Act. Empowers the Union and State governments to specify industries or establishments where wage payments can be made mandatory through banks. However, it is not mandatory for employers to make wage payments through the banking system and they can still pay in cash. 

Background

The Union Government had decided to take the ordinance route because after demonetisation of the Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 banknotes in November 2016 had led to a cash crunch, and employers were finding it tough to pay workers in cash. The Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2016, introduced in Parliament was also not able get passed during winter session of the Parliament. 

Article 123 of Constitution: It gives legislative power to President. He can issue ordinances when Parliament is not in session (i.e. recess) if there is urgent need to have a law on some urgent public matter. The promulgated ordinance has similar effect to an act of parliament. However, every ordinance must be laid and approved by both houses of the parliament within 6 weeks from the reassembling. If not placed and approved by both houses of the parliament after reassembling it lapses or becomes invalid.

Government proposes setting up Financial Data Management Centre

The Union Government has proposed setting up Financial Data Management Centre (FDMC) based on recommendation of a committee set up under the Department of Economic Affairs (DEC). The Committee was headed by Ajay Tyagi, Additional Secretary in Union Finance Ministry and has submitted its report and a draft bill titled The Financial Data Management Centre Bill, 2016. 

Functions of FDMC

Standardise data from all financial sector regulators in a single database and provide analytical insights based on the data to ensure stability in the economy. Take measures to standardise data from regulators, enable financial service providers to submit data in a standardised electronic format, analyse data and maintain a financial system database. Establish, operate and maintain the financial system database along with collecting financial regulatory data and providing access to it. Provide analytical support to the Financial Stability and Development Council (FSDC) on issues relating to financial stability. 

Background

In 2015, FSDC first had suggested the creation of such a body, after Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had objected to share company-specific data with FSDC. RBI had given reason that FSDC is not a statutory bod in nature, and sharing such data would be a breach of confidentiality. To resolve this issue, Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley in his 2016-17 Budget Speech announced setting up of statutory FDMC under the aegis of the FSDC to facilitate integrated data aggregation and analysis in the financial sector.

Government meets PMUY target of 1.5 crore LPG connections

The Union Ministry for Petroleum & Natural Gas has met the 1.5-crore target for LPG connections that were to be added under the Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) in the 2016-17 financial year. This Target was achieved within a span of less than eight months since the launch of the scheme which is implemented across 35 States/UTs. 

Key Facts

Since the launch of the PMUY, the LPG coverage across the country has increased to 70% as of December 1, 2016 from earlier 61% as of January 1, 2016. Top five States with highest number of LPG connections are: Uttar Pradesh (46 lakh), West Bengal (19 lakh), Bihar (19 lakh), Madhya Pradesh (17 lakh) and Rajasthan (14 lakh). These states constitute nearly 75% of the total connections released. 14 States/UTs with LPG coverage less than the national average. They are J&K, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and all North-East States. They have been identified as priority States for implementing PMUY. The households belonging to SC/ST constitute the large chunk of beneficiaries of this scheme with 35% of the connections being released to them. 

About Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY) 

The scheme provides free LPG connection with financial assistance of Rs. 1600/- per connection to an adult woman member of BPL family identified through Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data. It was launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in May 2016 from Balia, Uttar Pradesh. PMUY is the first welfare scheme being implemented by the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. The tagline of scheme is Swachh Indhan, Behtar Jeevan. It seeks to empower women and protect their health by shifting them from traditional cooking based on unclean cooking fuels or fossil fuels to clean cooking gas. It is being implemented over three years’ time frame i.e. in the FY 2016-17, 2017-18 and 2018-19 with budgetary allocation of allocated Rs, 8,000 crore announced in the Union Budget 2016.

China launches 2 high resolution remote sensing satellites

China has successfully launched pair two high-resolution remote sensing satellites SuperView-1 01 and 02 to get commercial images. These satellites were launched on-board of Long March 2D rocket from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Centre in Shanxi Province. They will provide commercial images at 0.5-meter resolution. 

The satellites launch followed release of a white paper which said

China plans to form a BeiDou network consisting of constellation of 35 satellites for global navigation services by 2020. It is expected to compete with US’s Global Positioning system (GPS). 

China plans to start providing basic navigation services to countries along the Silk Route One Belt One Road Economic route and 21st-century Maritime Silk Road in 2018.

China will launch a lunar probe in 2018 to achieve world’s first soft landing on the far side of the Moon to show case its ambitious space programme including manned missions, building permanent space station and reaching to Mars.

CCEA approves Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism affected areas

The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) has approved Road Connectivity Project for Left Wing Extremism (LWE) Affected Areas to improve rural road connectivity in worst LWE affected districts critical from security and communication point of view. The project will be implemented under Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY) to provide all weather road connectivity in 44 worst affected LWE districts and adjoining districts.

Key Facts

The Union Ministry of Rural Development will be the implementing Ministry as well as sponsoring Ministry of this project during implementation period four years from 2016-17 to 2019-20. The fund sharing pattern of LWE road project will be same as that of PMGSY i.e. in the ratio of 60:40 between the Centre and States for all States. However the ration will be 90:10 for eight North Eastern and three Himalayan States (Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir & Uttarakhand). 

About Road Connectivity Project for LWE Affected Areas

This project is envisaged in LWE States including the 35 worst affected LWE districts which account for 90% of total LWE violence in the country. The all-weather roads taken up under this scheme includes Other District Roads (ODRs), Village Roads (VRs) and upgradation of existing Major District Roads (MDRs) that are critical from security point of view. Besides, bridges up to a span of 100 meters which are critical from security angle will also be funded on these roads. The National Highways and the State Highways are excluded from this project. The roads to be constructed under this project have been identified by Union Ministry of Home Affairs in close consultation with the State Governments and the security agencies. 

About Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojana (PMGSY)

PMGSY is Centrally Sponsored Scheme launched in 2000 with the objective to provide all-weather road connectivity to all eligible unconnected habitations in rural areas of the country. The programme envisages connecting all eligible unconnected habitations with a population of 500 persons and above (as per 2001 Census) in plain areas and 250 persons and above (as per 2001 Census) in Special Category States, Desert Areas (as identified in Desert Development Programme), Tribal (Schedule-V) areas and in Select Tribal and Backward Districts (as identified by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs/Planning Commission).

Astronomers discover universe’s biggest Galaxy Supercluster near Milky Way

A team of international astronomers has discovered Vela super cluster, one of the biggest super galaxy clusters near the Milky Way. It was spotted by a research team of astronomers from South Africa, Australia and Europe with help slew of telescopes including the Anglo-Australian Telescope (Sydney) and South African Large Telescope (Cape Town). 

Key Facts 

Vela super cluster is massive and it is estimated to carry 100,000 galaxies with trillions of stars. It is one of the biggest concentrations of galaxies found in the Universe. It is possibly biggest galaxy in neighborhood of our Milky Galaxy and is at a distance of 840 million light-years from Earth. Our galaxy Milky Way, part of Laniakea supercluster is puny when compared to Vela. This new discovery may help astronomers to answer the retardation on the speed of Milky Way, which has mass of 400 billion suns and is containing 100 billion or more stars. Vela can also offer hints on how Milky Way got to the current location in the universe and gravity of the supercluster can explain the variations in Milky Way’s measured motion in space. 

What are Galaxy clusters? 

They are among the largest structures in the universe consisting of hundreds of galaxies spread in a not so vast area, usually it is limited to a few million light-years across. These clusters are big population of elliptical yet massive galaxies at the core. It is believed that these clusters formed stars a long time ago but not making stars anymore.

Kerala to seek Union government’s approval for using deer antlers in Ayurveda medicines

The Kerala Government has approached the Union Government for allowing use of antlers of spotted deer and sambar of Ayurveda medicines. In this regard, Kerala State Board for Wildlife (SBWL) under chairmanship of CM Pinarayi Vijayan has forwarded proposal to National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) and Ministry of Environment and Forests. SBWL is seeking suitable amendments to the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 for using the antlers for medicinal purposes. 

What are Antlers?

Antlers are the extensions of the deer’s skull. There are three deer varieties deer, sambar, and barking deer having antlers and are found in Kerala. They shed their antlers annually. It is believed that antlers have medicinal values and are mainly used for invigorating spleen, strengthening bones/muscles and boosting blood flow. 

What is the issue? 

The Kerala SBWL had approved a request from the state-run Oushadhi to collect and use antlers shed by spotted deer and sambars in zoos for preparing ayurvedic medicines. However, the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 prohibits (bans) sale and use of antlers in India. Tonnes of antlers are kept in the stores of Department of Museums and Zoos as the sale and use of antlers are banned. SBWL is seeking suitable amendments to the Wildlife Protection Act for using the antlers for medicinal purposes. 

What Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 says?

The Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, has included antler in the definition of wildlife trophy that may be whole or any part of any captive animal or wild animal. Section 39 of the Act prohibits person from acquiring or keeping trophies in his possession without the previous permission of Chief Wildlife Warden or the authorised officer. Wildlife and wildlife trophies are considered to be owned by the government. The Act prescribes imprisonment up to 3 years and a fine of Rs. 25,000 for offences involving wildlife trophies.

PM Narendra Modi lays foundation stone of Char Dham highway development project

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has laid the foundation stone of Char Dham highway development project or Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. The Chardham Mahamarg Vikas Pariyojna is an ambitious initiative to improve connectivity to the Char Dham pilgrimage centres in the Himalayas. 

Key Facts 

The project’s main objective is to develop around 900 km of national highways. These highways will be built at an approximate cost of Rs 12,000 crore. It will allow uninterrupted access for pilgrims to the four Himalayan shrines of Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri in Uttarakhand. The all-weather roads will have tunnels, bridges and fly-overs to enhance road safety and uninterrupted access. It will have proper slope stabilisation to ensure protection against landslides. It will benefit people visiting holy shrines in Uttarakhand. It will generate additional employment for the local population and will change the economy of the State as it will give strong boost to connectivity and tourism.

Sagarmala Development Company’s office inaugurated in New Delhi

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari inaugurated Sagarmala Development Company’s (SDC) office in New Delhi to promote port-led development in the country. The SDC has been incorporated under the Companies Act, 2013. The Union Cabinet in July 2016 had approved formation of the SDC under the administrative control of the Union Ministry of Shipping. 

Key Facts

The main objective SDC is to identify port-led development projects under the ambitious Sagarmala programme. It will provide equity support for project Special Purpose Vehicles (SPVs) set up by the Ports, State, Central Ministries and funding window. It will implement only those residual projects which cannot be funded by any other means mode. It will mainly help in structuring activities, bidding out projects for private sector participation, identifying suitable risk management measures for strategic projects across multiple States, regions and obtaining requisite approvals and clearances.

China tests 5th-generation fighter jet FC-31 Gyrfalcon

China has successfully tested the latest version of its fifth-generation stealth fighter jet J-31 (now renamed the FC-31 Gyrfalcon). The newest version of twin-engine FC-31 took to the air for the first time recently. It is considered as China’s answer to the US F-35, the world’s most technically advanced fighter. 

Key Facts 

The newest FC-31 has better stealth capabilities, improved electronic equipment and a larger payload capacity than the previous version which debuted in October 2012 It is manufactured by Shenyang Aircraft Corp., a subsidiary of the Aviation Industry Corp of China (AVIC). FC-31 has a maximum take-off weight of 28 metric tons, flight radius of 1,250 km, and top speed of Mach 1.8 (i.e. 1.8 times the speed of sound). It can easily carry 8 tons of weapons, hold six missiles in its internal weapons bay, plus another six under its wings. It also has been equipped with an electro-optical targeting system and helmet-mounted display. Some analysts say the FC-31 bears a close resemblance to the US’s F-35. 

Comment

China by introducing this fighter jet is trying to end the West’s monopoly on the world’s most advanced warplanes especially 5th generation fighter jet. When completed, the FC-31 will become the China’s second 5th-generation fighter after the J-20, which was put on its first public performance at the Zhuhai Air Show in November 2016.

China passes law to levy environment tax to fight pollution

China’s top legislature has passed Environment Tax to levy environment tax on polluters, especially on heavy industries. It will enter into force on January 1, 2018. The law aims to improve taxpayers’ environmental awareness, force companies to upgrade technology and shift to cleaner production. 

Key Facts

Under the new law, companies will pay environment taxes ranging from 350 yuan ($60) to 11,200 yuan ($1870) per month for noise. It set rates of 1.4 yuan on water pollutants, 1.2 yuan on stipulated quantities of air pollutants and a range of 5 to 1,000 yuan for each ton of solid waste. It allows provincial-level governments to raise rates for air and water pollution by up to 10 times after approval by local legislatures. Under it, lower rates can also be applicable if emissions are less than national standards. It only targets enterprises and public institutions that discharge listed pollutants directly into environment. Punishments for evasion or fraud have not been specified, but it says that offenders will be held liable in line with the law on administration of taxation and the environmental law. Greenhouse gas Carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the major contributors to global warming, is not included in the levying list. 

Background

China is the world’s largest emitter of greenhouse gases (GHGs), due to its heavy reliance on coal to provide electricity to its population of 1.37 billion (world’s largest). Since 1979, China has collected a “pollutant discharge fee” which not enforced by any law. In 2015, it collected 17.3 billion yuan (about 2.5 billion dollars) from some 280,000 businesses. However, it was found that some local governments were exploiting loopholes and exempting pollution enterprises.

Union Government launches Coal Mitra portal to facilitate flexibility in utilization of domestic coal

The Union Ministry of Coal has launched Coal Mitra, a web portal for allowing flexibility in utilization of domestic Coal. It was launched by Union Minister of State (IC) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy and Mines Piyush Goyal in New Delhi. 

Key Facts 

The Coal Mitra Web Portal aims at optimum utilisation by private as well as public power companies of the coal. It facilitates transfer of the coal reserves to more cost efficient State/Centre owned or Private sector generating stations. The portal allows coal swapping between PSUs and the Private Sector in transparent manner and also helps to reduce operational and logistic costs, bringing power tariffs down for the consumers. It facilitates state/Central Gencos to display information about normative fixed and variable charges of electricity for the previous month. They can also display margin available for additional generation so as to enable the utilities identify stations for transfer of coal. It will host data on Quantity and source of supply coal to the power plant, Operational and Financial parameters of each coal based station and Distance of Power plant form the Coal mine.

NGT bans open waste burning across the country

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) imposed a complete ban on burning of waste in open places across the country and announced a fine of Rs. 25,000 on each incident of bulk waste burning. The green panel’s judgement was given on the petition seeking directions to local bodies in states and Centre for improving solid waste management methods.

NGT Judgement

Complete prohibition on open burning of waste on lands, including at landfill sites. For each such incident, violators will pay environmental compensation of Rs. 5,000 in case of simple burning and Rs. 25,000 in case of bulk waste burning, States and UTs to enforce and implement Solid Waste Management Rules, 2016 in a time-bound manner. Union Environment Ministry and all States must pass appropriate directions in relation to the ban on short-life Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) and chlorinated plastics within a period of six months. Establish and operationalise of plants for processing and disposal of the waste and selection and specifications of landfill sites Non-biodegradable waste and non-recyclable plastic should be segregated from the landfill sites. It must be used for construction of roads and embankments in all road projects all over country. 

About National Green Tribunal (NGT) 

NGT is a statutory body established by a Government Notification using the powers of Section 3 of the NGT Act 2010. It is a special fast-track court to handle the expeditious disposal of the cases pertaining to environmental issues. It has been established to assure the right to a healthy environment to the citizens of India as enshrined in Article 21 of Constitution.

India suffers from huge gender pay gap: ILO Report

Recently released Global Wage Report 2016-17 released by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) has found that India suffers from huge gender pay gap. It shows that India has among the worst levels of gender wage disparity (men earning more than women in similar jobs) with the gap exceeding 30%. 

Key Facts

Singapore has among the lowest gender wage disparity at 3%. Among major economies, South Korea only fared worse than India, with a gap of 37%. India’s position: In India, women formed 60% of the lowest paid wage labour, but only 15% of the highest wage-earners. It means that women are not only poorly represented in the top bracket of wage-earners but also gender pay gap at the bottom is also very wide in India. In other words, not only were women paid less, there were fewer women in highly paid occupations. Regional wage disparity: The share of women among wage earners was among the lowest in South Asia. Compared to a global average of 40%, and an Asia-Pacific average of 38%, in South Asia (whose dominant economy is India), only 20% of wage earners were women. Reasons for wage gap: Women’s educational choices produced occupational segregation. Care work mostly undertaken by women is undervalued because it may be seen as a natural female attribute rather than a skill to be acquired. Thus, there is higher representation of women in sectors where their work is undervalued results in a gender pay gap. Way Forward: Strong labour market institutions and policies such as collective bargaining and minimum wages will help to lower the pay gap. It is found that the gender pay gap is smallest (around 8%) in the group of countries where the collective bargaining rate is at least 80%, and widest in countries with weak collective bargaining and very low or no minimum wages. Income inequality: The report also highlighted income inequality. In India, the top 1% earns 33 times what the bottom 10% did. The top 10% also earned 43% of all wages. Since 2006, average wages rose by 60% in India, while they more than doubled in China.

About International Labour Organisation (ILO) 

The ILO is a United Nations agency dealing with labour issues, particularly international labour standards, social protection, and work opportunities for all. It was established in 1919 as an agency of the League of Nations and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland.

China launches TanSat satellite to monitor global carbon emissions

China successfully launched TanSat, a global carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring satellite to understand the effects of climate change. It was launched on board of Long March-2D rocket from Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in northwest China’s Gobi Desert. It was the 243rd mission of the Long March series rockets. With this, China became third country after Japan and United States to have its own satellite to monitor greenhouse gases (GHGs). 

About TanSat satellite

TanSat will thoroughly examine global CO2 levels every 16 days, accurate to at least 4 ppm (parts per million). It weighs 620-kg and will be located in sun synchronous orbit about 700 kms above the earth. It has three-year mission life. It will thoroughly monitor the concentration, distribution and flow of CO2 levels every 16 days, accurate to at least 4 ppm (parts per million) in the atmosphere. The satellite will help understanding of climate change and provide China’s policy makers with independent emissions data in first-hand and share it with researchers worldwide. It will give China a louder voice on climate change, carbon reduction negotiation and bigger say on carbon trading.

December 22: National Mathematics Day

The National Mathematics Day is observed every year on 22nd December to celebrate birth anniversary of great Indian autodidact Mathematician Srinivasa Ramanujan. This year, it is 129th birth anniversary of Srinivasa Ramanujan.

About Srinivasa Ramanujan 

Srinivasa Ramanujan was born on 22nd December, 1887 in Erode district of Tamil Nadu. He died at young age of 32 on 26 April 1920. He was considered as doyen of number theory, infinite series, mathematical analysis, and making formulas and equations without any formal training in pure mathematics.He in the same league as great mathematicians such as Euler and Gauss. He was deeply religious person and had credited his mathematical capacities to divinity. He had once said ‘”An equation for me has no meaning, unless it expresses a thought of God.” 

Key contributions: As a mathematical genius, he had compiled more than 3900 mathematical results and equations. His Ramanujan Prime and Ramanujan theta discoveries have inspired further research on this mathematical subject. Along with British Mathematician Godfrey Harold Hardy, Ramanujan had discovered the smallest number represented as sum of two cubes 1729 which is known as Hardy-Ramanujan number. Autobiography and Movie: The feature film “The Man Who Knew Infinity” was based on his life. It was based on his biography “The Man Who Knew Infinity: A Life of the Genius Ramanujan” written in 1991 by Robert Kanigel. Background The National Mathematics Day was instituted in 2011 by the Union Government to celebrate Ramanujan’s 125th birth anniversary. Besides, the year 2012 was also declared National Mathematics Year.

Hong Kong revokes visa-free entry to Indians

Hong Kong, a China-administered special territory has decided to withdraw visa-free facility for Indians from January 23, 2017. This decision was taken on the ground to prevent illegal immigration as number of Indian asylum seekers was on the rise. Over half a million Indians visit Hong Kong for business, trade and holidays. Under the new rules, Indian travellers will have to complete a pre-arrival registration. Such pre-registration would not be necessary for those transiting through the Hong Kong airport without leaving the airport transit area. 

Background

Earlier, Hong Kong used to be part of a block of countries that gave Indians unconditional visa-free entry. Indians were permitted to enter Hong Kong with a valid passport for a period up to 14 days without a visa. However in recent times, it was found that Indian nationals were overstaying in Hong Kong by violating visa norms. 

Comment

Hong Kong’s unilateral decision came a year after its government had sent a delegation headed by the Assistant Director of Immigration from the Immigration Department and Hong Kong Police in December 2015 to India. It had informed concerns about “illegal employment” and “human trafficking” involving Indians in Hong Kong to India’s External Affairs Ministry. They even had expressed concern that many Indians taking up jobs even though Hong Kong does not allow visitors to work.

Union Cabinet approves ordinance to pay salaries by cheques

The Union Cabinet has approved a draft ordinance to empower states and allow industries to pay workers’ wages digitally, through a direct bank transfer to accounts or by cheque in a bid to encourage cashless transactions. The draft ordinance proposes changes to the Section 6 of the Payment of Wages Act, 1936 to encourage cashless transactions. It will need the President’s assent to become law as per article 123 of the Constitution. 

Key Facts

It will allow industries to pay wages to workers earning up to Rs. 18,000/ month, without taking their explicit consent as required under present Act. However, wage payment through the banking system will only be optional, until State governments or Union Government come up with a notification for specific industries since Labour is in the concurrent list. The present law (1936 Act) states that all payment of wages should be in cash. Under it has mandatory provision asking employers to obtain written permission of the worker to pay either by cheque or by crediting wages to his or her bank account. 

Comment

The payment of wages through cheque or DBT of employed persons has twin motives i.e. it will reduce complaints regarding non-payment or less payment of minimum wages and serve purpose of digital and less cash economy. The move is significant in view of the Union Government is promoting cashless transactions after its decision to scrap the old high value Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 currency notes. Earlier Payment of Wages (Amendment) Bill, 2016 introduced in the Lok Sabha during 2016 winter session but was not cleared owing to the impasse in Parliament.

Scientists witness the birth of an ice cloud for the first time

US based researchers for the first time have observed the creation of ice crystals on individual atmospheric particles in the laboratory. This observation gives an unprecedented glimpse at most critical but least understood parts of the process of cold clouds formation. 

Key Facts

Researchers had replicated heterogeneous ice nucleation process in which particle attracts water vapour and forms ice crystals. For this, they replicated suitable conditions found high above Earth’s surface at an altitude of about 6 kilometres where cirrus clouds form in the sky due to ice crystals. They witnessed formation of ice crystals in highly confined climate-controlled chamber in which atmospheric temperature, pressure and humidity conditions were maintained similar in atmosphere. For recreation of ice nucleation, researchers also used extremely small particles of a clay mineral called kaolinite. These particles were just 2–3 microns in size, or less than one-tenth width of a human hair. The kaolinite was then placed in a highly confined climate-controlled chamber of very small size, which was photographed by an environmental scanning electron microscope. It was found that nucleation occurred at temperatures as low as minus 68 degrees Celsius with relative humidity from about 70 to 80%. 

Natural process of heterogeneous ice nucleation

 At an altitude of about 6 kilometres, relative humidity is high and temperatures are very low. It forces water vapour to collect on any small particles floating in the atmosphere, before freezing in place as an ice deposit. In the atmosphere, such airborne particles could be almost anything, including volcanic ash, aircraft emissions, or even microbes.

Parliamentary committee report highlights alarming rise in forest fires

According to report submitted by Parliamentary Standing Committee on Science and Technology, there is alarming rise in forest fires across India. It says that the number of forest fires have touched 24,817 in 2016 from 15,937 fires in 2015. It shows alarming rise 55% in the past year. The report primarily focuses on the prevention and containing of fires in the Himalayan forests spread across Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir. 

Findings of Committee

 There increase in forest fires is seen even though 2015 was considered a drought year. But there is decline in frequency of forest fires by around 16%. The three central States of Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha contribute a third of the forest fires. Madhya Pradesh has seen a nearly ten-fold increase in forest fires, from just 294 in 2015 to more than 2,600 in 2016. In Himachal and Uttarakhand, over 17,502 acres have been ravaged in 2016 due to forest fires, a rise of over 171%. Large number of posts of front line forest staff were lying vacant, while fire-fighting equipment is rudimentary in many cases. 

Recommendations

National policy on managing forest fires must be framed. Replacing pine reserve forests areas with “broad-leaf” plants. Procurement of sweeping machines to clear roadsides of Chir pine needles. Advocating large-scale incentives and programmes (including under MNREGA) to collect pines for use as fuel, and other incineration. 

Background 

The committee was formed after a series of devastating forest fires earlier in the year 2016 including the prolonged one that had charred 4,000 hectares of forest land across 13 districts of Uttarakhand in May 2016. The committee was headed by Rajya Sabha MP Renuka Choudhary.

Kaisa Matomaki, Maksym Radziwill win 2016 SASTRA Ramanujan award

Kaisa Matomaki and Maksym Radziwill have been jointly won the 2016 SASTRA-Ramanujan award for mathematics for their ‘revolutionary’ collaborative work on short intervals in number theory. Their mathematical work dwells on properties of numbers in “short intervals.” The two mathematicians worked with Fields medallist Terence Tao in making a breakthrough on the Chowla conjecture. They were presented with this prestigious award at inauguration of International Conference on Number Theory at SASTRA University at Kumbakonam. Kaisa Matomaki from Finland’s University of Turku is first woman to receive this prize since it was instituted in 2005. Maksym Radziwill is Assistant professor at McGill University, Canada. 

About SASTRA Ramanujan Prize

 It is an annual award bestowed on young mathematicians for his outstanding contributions to areas of mathematics influenced by the Srinivasa Ramanujan. It was established in 2005 by Shanmugha Arts, Science, Technology & Research Academy (SASTRA) University. It is named after great Indian Mathematician autodidact Srinivasa Ramanujan. Criteria: The age limit for the prize is 32 because Ramanujan had achieved so much in his brief life of 32 years. The prize is given annually to recipient at Kumbakonam which is Ramanujan’s hometown.

Odisha Cabinet approves mega lift irrigation projects

• The state cabinet today approved the proposal to award works for 54 more schemes under the Mega Lift Irrigation Scheme in four clusters to irrigate about 62,000 hectares. The projects will cost Rs 1796.27 crore.
• The schemes will cover 23 blocks in five districts of Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Ganjam, Kalahandi and Nuapada. Larsen and Toubro

First Nepali transgender model to walk at Lakmé Fashion Week

• Anjali Lama is set to be the first Nepali transgender model to walk the ramp at the upcoming Lakmé Fashion Week in February 2017. 
• Anjali Lama was born in Nuwakot district as a boy and was named Nabin Waiba. 
• She has also been the subject of a documentary titled 'Anjali: Living Inside Someone Else's Skin'.

Maharashtra forest department’s 24x7 helpline

• The Maharashtra forest department will launch a state-wide call centre facility from January 6.
• It will operate from Goregaon in Mumbai and is currently functioning on a trial basis.
• Citizens will soon be able to call on a 24x7 toll free number (1926) to lodge complaints or get information about a variety of issues related to forests and wildlife

SBI launches digital wallet MobiCash in alliance with BSNL

• India's largest lender State Bank of India, in partnership with state-run telco BSNL has launched its mobile wallet application ‘State Bank MobiCash’ for smartphones as well as feature phones. 
• It will enable users to deposit cash through BSNL retail outlets and withdraw funds from their accounts. 
• This comes amid the government pushing for shift to cashless economy following demonetisation

Govt launches GARV-II app for tracking rural electrification

• Union Minister of State (IC) for Power Piyush Goyal launched the 'GARV-II' app that will provide real-time data on electrification of 6 lakh villages, with 15 lakh habitations, across the country. 
• Adding that the application will provide village-wise and habitation-wise data covering 17 crore people, Goyal added that the government aims to achieve '24x7 Power for All'.

India's boxing fed gets permanent membership in world body

• The International Boxing Association (AIBA) on unanimously voted to induct the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) as one of its permanent members. 
• India was provisionally suspended in December 2012 for “possible manipulation” in the erstwhile Indian Amateur Boxing Federation’s elections. 
• AIBA's chief also congratulated the BFI for organising and conducting the Nationals.

Bengaluru to get India's second sericulture centre

• Union minister for Textiles Smriti Irani is set to launch India's second centre of excellence for sericulture in Bengaluru on Tuesday to boost the silk industry, according to reports. 
• India's first such centre was set up in Ranchi by the Central Silk Board. Reportedly, the country is currently importing nearly 4,000 metric tonnes of high quality raw silk from China.

Dictionary Merriam-Webster has named "surreal" as its word of the year

• The lexicographer selected surreal - which means "unbelievable, fantastic" - after spikes in searches following terrorist attacks and the US election. 
• The attacks in Brussels, the Bastille Day massacre in Nice and the attempted coup in Turkey all saw an increase in how often people searched for the word 
• "Surreal" is also defined as meaning "marked by the intense irrational reality of a dream", according to Merriam Webster.

Karun Nair fastest Indian to score maiden 200 in Tests

• Karun Nair became the fastest Indian to score maiden double ton in Tests, reaching the milestone in his career's third innings during the ongoing Chennai Test against England o. 
• Nair surpassed Vinod Kambli, who took four innings to score a double ton. This is also Nair's maiden Test ton, with his previous best innings score being 13.

Justice JS Khehar to be the 1st Sikh Chief Justice of India

• President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday cleared the appointment of Justice JS Khehar as the next Chief Justice of India, and the first from Sikh community. 
• Justice Khehar will be sworn in as the 44th CJI on January 4, 2017. He will have a short tenure of about seven months until August 28, 2017, following which he will retire.

Jaipur Wax Museum at Nahargarh Fort Inaugurated

• Bollywood actor Govinda inaugurated the Jaipur Wax Museum on Saturday at the 18th-century Nahargarh Fort, which overlooks the city. 
• The museum houses wax sculptures of around 25 personalities, including actor Amitabh Bachchan and warriors Maharana Pratap and Sawai Jai Singh. 
• Govinda said, "I hope there will more activities like this in Jaipur."

Priyanka chosen as Assam's tourism ambassador for 2 years

• Actress Priyanka Chopra has been appointed Assam's tourism brand ambassador for two years. 
• The state's Finance and Tourism Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said, "She is coming to Guwahati on December 24 when we will formally appoint her as our brand ambassador." 
• Sarma added that Priyanka will visit Assam several times in the next few months to take part in shoots.

Government to set up single tribunal to arbitrate inter-State water disputes

The Union Government has decided to set up a single permanent Tribunal to adjudicate all inter-State river water disputes. This single body will subsume all existing tribunals for resolving grievances of inter-State water disputes in a speedy manner. It will be headed by a retired Supreme Court judge. The Tribunal will also have more teeth as whenever it gives order, the verdict gets notified automatically. Until now, the Union Government was required to notify the awards, causing delay in its implementation. 

Newly proposed mechanisms

Benches for adjudicating inter-State river water disputes 

Besides the tribunal, the Union Government has also proposed to float some Benches by amending the Inter-State Water Disputes Act, 1956 to look into disputes as and when required. Unlike the tribunal, these benches will cease to exist once the disputes are resolved. Earlier water tribunals took decades to deliver final awards into disputes, whereas the proposed Tribunal is expected to deliver its verdict during a span of three years.

Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC)

Along with the tribunal, the amendment also has been proposed to set up Dispute Resolution Committee (DRC). The DRC will be comprising experts and policy-makers. It is proposed to handle disputes prior to the tribunal. The Union Government will set up a DRC whenever a state will request. Most of the disputes will be resolved at the DRC’s level itself. But if a State is not satisfied, it can approach the tribunal.

Union Government forms high-level task force on Indus Water Treaty

The Union government has formed a high-level inter-ministerial task force to look into all the strategic aspects of Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan. Mandate of Task force is to take all important strategic and policy decisions. Thus, it will be an all-powerful body which will take decisions regarding the treaty. It will be headed by Prime Minister’s Principal Secretary Nripendra Mishra. Besides, other members of it include NSA Ajit Doval, foreign secretary S Jaishankar and secretaries in ministries of finance, power, water resource and environment. Besides, chief secretaries of Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir are invitees in the task force. 

Background 

The high-level inter-ministerial task force has been formed after Prime Minister Narendra Modi had held a review meeting on the 56-year-old Indus Water Treaty (IWT) with Pakistan in the aftermath of series of cross-border terror strikes including Uri attack. In that meeting, it was also decided that India will exploit to the maximum water of Pakistan-controlled Rivers including Jhelum. 

AYUSH Ministry launches Swasthya Raksha Programme

The Union AYUSH Ministry has launched ‘Swasthya Raksha Programme’ to promote health and health education in villages. The programme was initiated through Central Council for Research in Ayurvedic Sciences (CCRAS), Central Council for Research in Homoeopathy (CCRH), Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM) and Central Council for Research in Siddha (CCRS). It was launched by AYUSH Ministry in October 2015. 

Aims and objectives of Swasthya Raksha Programme

 Organize Swasthya Parikshan Camps, Swasthya Rakshan OPDs and Health and Hygiene awareness programme Create awareness about cleanliness of domestic surroundings and environment. Provide medical aid and incidental support in the adopted villages and colonies. Document demographic information, hygiene conditions, food habits, seasons, lifestyle etc., incidence and prevalence of disease and their relation to the incidence of disease. Assess health status and propagation of Ayurvedic concept of pathya-apathya and extension of health care services.

World’s first Goat with superfine wool cloned in China

The world’s first cloned goat bearing superfine Cashmere wool was born in north China’s Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. The goat will be raised in a base for animal husbandry research conducted by experts from agricultural universities in southwest China’s Yunnan Province and Inner Mongolia. Cashmere wool is obtained from Cashmere goats and few other types of goat. The wool fibre obtained from clonned goat is less than 13.8 micrometres thick. It is much finer than the average of 15.8 micrometres of the famous Erlang Mountain goats in Inner Mongolia. 

Cloning: It is scientific process of creating genetically identical copies of biological matter. It may include genetically identical copies of genes, cells, tissues or entire organisms.