Comprehensive News Analysis - 06 February 2016

Table of Contents:

A. GS1 Related:
B. GS2 Related:

1. Nuclear suppliers let off hook: Left

2. U.S. to address India’s concerns

3. India ready to address Sri Lanka’s concerns on economy pact

C. GS3 Related:

1. As customs duty exemption goes, 76 life-saving drugs to get costlier

2. A jobs scheme that steadied India

3. No nod for GM mustard now

4. Former bureaucrat Pandian named AIIB CIO

D. Important Editorials: A Quick Glance

Others:

1. Business Line: Indian Basmati gets geo-tag of authenticity

E. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
F. Practice Questions
G. Archives

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Useful News Articles

A. GS1 Related:

— Nothing here today, folks! —

.

B. GS2 Related:

1. Nuclear suppliers let off hook: Left

Topic: International Relations, Social Justice

Category: U.S., India

Location: The Hindu, Page 14

Key Points:

• The Union government has decided to ratify the Convention on Supplier Compensation (CSC) at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.

• The External Affairs Ministry called the move “a conclusive step in the addressing of issues related to civil nuclear liability in India”.

• A Rs.1,500-crore “insurance pool” that could be used by suppliers in the event of any incident has been launched.

• The decision to ratify the CSC does not violate the domestic Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA), 2010, Clauses 17(1)(B) and 46.

• The CLNDA “permits but does not require an operator to include in the contract or exercise a right of recourse” with the supplier.

P16-nuclear_2725615a

2. U.S. to address India’s concerns

Topic: International Relations, Social Justice

Category: U.S., India

Location: The Hindu, Page 15

05-ARUN-India_s_TH_2726019e

Key Points:

• Obama has assured Prime Minister Modi that his administration would soon look into India’s concerns over the recent move to increase visa fees.

• After the increase, the fees for certain categories of H1B and L1 visas have more than doubled.

• According to Nasscom, the IT/ITeS industry body, the decision’s financial impact on the Indian technology sector would be around $400 million a year.

3. India ready to address Sri Lanka’s concerns on economy pact

Topic: International Relations, Social Justice

Category: India- Sri Lanka

Location: The Hindu, Page 16

TH06_SUSHMA_2725612f

Key Points:

• A 500-MW Sampoor thermal power project, a joint venture involving Sri Lanka and India, was granted environmental clearance a few days ago.

• The issue of setting up a special economic zone in Trincomalee for India was also raised.

C. GS3 Related:

1. As customs duty exemption goes, 76 life-saving drugs to get costlier

Topic: Science & Tech

Category: Bio-technology

Location: The Hindu, Page 1

P1-customs_2725616a

Key Points:

• The Finance Ministry has withdrawn exemption of 76 medicines from customs duties.

• This could inflate the cost of essential life-saving imported drugs.

• The list includes 10 HIV drugs and at least four cancer drugs.

• Haemophilia patients are likely to be the most affected by the decision.

What is Haemophilia?

• Haemophilia is a genetic disorder in which the patient tends to bleed excessively.

• Anti-haemophilic factor concentrates (VIII & IX) that are given to patients to control the bleeding are off the list.

2. A jobs scheme that steadied India

Topic: Indian Economy

Category: Agriculture

Location: The Hindu, Page 12

Key Points:

It is now a decade since the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme was launched.

Plus points raised:

• Provide employment to India’s rural poor and improve their livelihoods in distress situations such as drought, crop failures and lean rural employment days.

• Raise rural wages steadily over time

• Build rural assets such as irrigation canals and roads have augmented local infrastructure.

Minus points raised:

• Sceptics had raised concerns that it would be yet another opportunity for middlemen to pocket funds

• Sluggishness in MGNREGS’s implementation

• Ups and downs in the Central outlay for the scheme

• Delays in releasing funds to States for wage payments

• This has led to a relative slack in demand and consequently a drop in the work hours and even a decline in the average rural wage rate increases in these years.

There needs to be a better political understanding of the need for and the efficacy of welfarism.

3. No nod for GM mustard now

Topic: Indian Economy, Science and Technology

Category: Agriculture, Bio-technology

Location: The Hindu, Page 14

Key Points:

• Mustard, is the country’s first genetically modified (GM) food crop for which there are plans for commercialisation.

• The Genetic Engineering Appraisal Committee (GEAC), is the apex body to accord approval for large-scale use and commercial release of genetically modified organisms in India.

• Deepak Pental developed the transgenic variety with funds from the government and the National Dairy Development Board.

4. Former bureaucrat Pandian named AIIB CIO

Topic: Indian Economy, International Relations (GS- Paper 2)

Category: International Institutions, Economic Institutions

Location: The Hindu, Page 18

Key Points:

• Dr. Pandian has been appointed as the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB).

• The CIO would be leading the planning and supervision of the bank’s infrastructure investment.

• Dr. Pandian was instrumental in liberalising the policy regime to attract international investment to crucial infrastructure sectors including power, airlines, ports and telecom.

D. Important Editorials: A Quick Glance

Others

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E. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn:

i. Intellectual Property Appellate Board (IPAB)

ii. AIIB

iii. Haemophilia

iv. Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act (CLNDA)

v. GM mustard

vi. GI tag

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F. Fun with Practice Questions 🙂
Question 1: Which of the following statement is incorrect about IPAB?
1. IPAB exercises jurisdiction over Trademarks, Patents and Geographical Indications as on date.
2. It is the only tribunal in India which has a global impact.
Answer Choices:
a. 1 Only
b. 2 Only
c. Both 1 & 2
d. None
Question 2: The Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) was proposed as an initiative by the government of China, supported by 37 regional and 20 non-regional Prospective Founding Members (PFM) to  form the legal basis for the proposed bank. Is this statement true or false?
  1. International Anti-Dengue Day is observed every year on June 15.
  2. The first anti-dengue day event was held in Myanmar.
  3. Aims to increase public awareness about dengue, mobilize resources for its prevention and control to demonstrate the Asian region’s commitment in tackling the disease.

a) 1 & 2 Only

b) 1 & 3 Only

c) Only 1

d) Only 2

Question 3: Which of the following is known as Royal Disease?

a) Colour Blindness

b) Alzheimer’s disease

c) Sickle Cell Anaemia

d) Haemophilia

Question 4: Which of the following was awarded with GI tag?

1. Tirupathi Laddu

2. Dharwad Pedha

3. Bengal Rasagolla

4. Hyderabadi Haleem

a. 1 and 2 only

b. 1, 2, and 4 only

c. 3 only

d. All of the above

Check Your Answers

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