A. GS1 Related:
B. GS2 Related:
POLITY
1. Fresh move to impeach Justice Nagarjuna Reddy
INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. An Abe-Modi plan for Africa
2. U.S. proposes cut in aid to Pak
C. GS3 Related:
ECONOMICS
1. Centre may expand UDAN’s wingspan
2. Cabinet nod for phasing out FIPB
D. GS4 Related:
E. Concepts-in-News: Related Concepts to Revise/Learn
F. Bills/Acts/Schemes/Orgs in News
G. Practice Questions for UPSC Prelims Exam
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Useful News Articles for UPSC Current Affairs
A. GS1 Related
Nothing here for today!!
1. Fresh move to impeach Justice Nagarjuna Reddy
In news:
- Impeachment proceedings have been initiated against Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy of the High Court for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
- 60 members of the Rajya Sabha have submitted a motion seeking initiation of impeachment proceedings.
- Second attempt to impeach Justice Nagarjuna Reddy.
Allegations against Justice:
- Interfering in the judicial process.
- Caste slurs including death threats against a Dalit Junior Civil Judge Sanku Rama Krishna at the courts in Rayachoti, a town in Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa district
Procedure :
- Vice President to constitute a three-member committee under the 1968 Judges (Inquiry) Act, which generally consists of a sitting Supreme Court judge and two High Court Chief Justices.
- This is done in consultation with the CJI.
- The Committee will function like a trial court, examining the accusations against Justice Reddy and ruling whether they are well-founded. Thereafter it will advise in favour, or against the judge’s removal.
- The Committee’s decision will then be placed in both houses of Parliament for a vote, and would require a two-third majority of MPs present voting in favour of the motion in the same session, or an absolute majority of a joint session, for the judge to be removed.
- Article 124 (4) of the Constitution stipulates that a minimum of 50 Rajya Sabha MPs or double that number from the Lok Sabha are required as signatories to initiate impeachment, the only means to remove judges from office in the country’s higher judiciary.
Category: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
1. An Abe-Modi plan for Africa
In news:
- The Indian and Japanese governments unveiled a vision document for the Asia Africa Growth Corridor, proposed by the two countries’ Prime Ministers last November, and more details are likely to be firmed up by September in time for Japan PM Shinzo Abe’s visit to New Delhi.
- Unlike China’s One Belt One Road (OBOR) project, about which India has raised several concerns, the Asia Africa Growth Corridor is conceived as a more open and inclusive programme that will be based on more consultations and keep people as the centre piece rather than just trade and economic ties.
- Four key elements:
- Enhancing capacity and skills;
- Building quality infrastructure and connecting institutions;
- Development and cooperation projects in health, farming, manufacturing and disaster management; and
- People-to-people partnerships.
- Greater cooperation between Indian and Japanese firms in furthering Africa’s development and Indian investors to participate in the new economic zone coming up around Kenya’s Mombasa port with Japan’s assistance.
2. U.S. proposes cut in aid to Pak
In news:
- Pakistan will be among several countries that will be affected if cuts in military aid to partners proposed by the White House is passed by Congress.
- The Trump administration has proposed that the military aid to Pakistan in 2018 be reduced to $100 million from $265 million in 2017.
- The $100 million under foreign military funding is to help Pakistan buy military hardware.
- With other programmes added, total assistance proposed for Pakistan next year amounts to $344 million, which is also a substantial reduction.
- The reduction could affect Pakistan’s army, navy and air force and diminish its ability to patrol the maritime border.
May dent war on terror:
- The proposed cuts could impact Pakistan’s ability to fight terrorist organisations in the region
Conversion to loans:
- The Trump administration has also proposed that the military grants may be converted to loans wherever appropriate.
- The proposed system will require partner countries to buy American weaponry with the loans before paying the money back to America.
- If implemented, the new system could drive many countries to America’s rivals such as China and Russia for military hardware and the State Department bureaucracy is opposed to it.
C. GS3 Related
1. Centre may expand UDAN’s wingspan
In news:
- The Centre has proposed widening the scope of its UDAN scheme for regional connectivity by making more flight operations eligible for a host of concessions, including viability gap funding.
- All routes which do not have flight services at present may become part of the Scheme.
2. Cabinet nod for phasing out FIPB
- The union Cabinet approved phasing out of the 25year old Foreign Investment Promotion Board (FIPB)
- The decision is aimed at making India more attractive for FDI by improving ease of doing business and promoting the “Maximum Governance, Minimum Government” principle.
Nothing here for Today!!!
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Article in News |
About the article |
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Article 124: Establishment and Constitution of Supreme Court |
(1) There shall be a Supreme Court of India consisting of a Chief Justice of India and, until Parliament by law prescribes a larger number, of not more than seven other Judges. (2) Every Judge of the Supreme Court shall be appointed by the President by warrant under his hand and seal after consultation with such of the Judges of the Supreme Court and of the High Courts in the States as the President may deem necessary for the purpose and shall hold office until he attains the age of sixty-five years: Provided that in the case of appointment of a Judge other than the Chief Justice, the Chief Justice of India shall always be consulted: Provided further that— (a) a Judge may, by writing under his hand addressed to the President, resign his office; (b) a Judge may be removed from his office in the manner provided in clause (4).
(3) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge of the Supreme Court unless he is a citizen of India and— (a) has been for at least five years a Judge of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession; or (b) has been for at least ten years an advocate of a High Court or of two or more such Courts in succession; or (c) is, in the opinion of the President, a distinguished jurist. Explanation I: In this clause “High Court means a High Court which exercises, or which at any time before the commencement of this Constitution exercised, jurisdiction in any part of the territory of India. Explanation II: In computing for the purpose of this clause the period during which a person has been an advocate, any period during which a person has held judicial office not inferior to that of a district judge after he became an advocate shall be included. (4) A Judge of the Supreme Court shall not be removed from his office except by an order of the President passed after an address by each House of Parliament supported by a majority of the total membership of that House and by a majority of not less than twothirds of the members of that House present and voting has been presented to the President in the same session for such removal on the ground of proved misbehaviour or incapacity. (5) Parliament may by law regulate the procedure for the presentation of an address and for the investigation and proof of the misbehaviour or incapacity of a Judge under clause (4). (6) Every person appointed to be a Judge of the Supreme Court shall, before he enters upon his office, make and subscribe before the President, or some person appointed in that behalf by him, an oath or affirmation according to the form set out for the purpose in the Third Schedule. (7) No person who has held office as a Judge of the Supreme Court shall plead or act in any court or before any authority within the territory of India. |
Question 1: The 2017 bilateral maritime exercise “SIMBEX-17” has started between India and
which country?
- Sri Lanka
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Singapore
Question 2: Which city to host the 2017 annual convention of the African Development Bank
(AfDB) Group?
- Valencia
- Gandhinagar
- Lisbon
- Shanghai
Question 3: The Bhindawas Bird Sanctuary (BBS) is located in which state?
- Haryana
- Rajasthan
- Sikkim
- Kerala
Question 4: What is the style of script in the Indus Valley Civilization?
- Boustrophedon
- Pictographic
- Hieroglyphic
- None of the above
Question 5: Consider the following statement with reference to The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill
which was in news recently
- The bill allows altruistic surrogacy.
- Surrogate mother need not be a relative
- Insurance coverage for the surrogate mother is a must.
Choose the correct answer
- Only 1
- 1 and 2
- All three
- None of the above
(a)
Topic: Current affairs
Level: Easy
Explanation:
The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 {focus on broad aspects }
- Regulation of surrogacy: The Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows altruistic surrogacy. Altruistic surrogacy involves no monetary compensation to the surrogate mother other than the medical expenses and insurance coverage during the pregnancy. Commercial surrogacy includes surrogacy or its related procedures undertaken for a monetary benefit or reward (in cash or kind) exceeding the basic medical expenses and insurance coverage.
- Purposes for which surrogacy is permitted: Surrogacy is permitted when it is, (i) for intending couples who suffer from proven infertility; and (ii) altruistic; and (iii) not for commercial purposes; and (iv) not for producing children for sale, prostitution or other forms of exploitation.
- Eligibility criteria for intending couple: The intending couple should have a ‘certificate of essentiality’ and a ‘certificate of eligibility’ issued by the appropriate authority.
- A certificate of essentiality will be issued upon fulfilment of the following conditions: (i) a certificate of proven infertility of one or both members of the intending couple from a District Medical Board; (ii) an order of parentage and custody of the surrogate child passed by a Magistrate’s court; and (iii) insurance coverage for the surrogate mother.
- The certificate of eligibility is issued upon fulfilment of the following conditions by the intending couple: (i) Indian citizens and are married for at least five years; (ii) between 23 to 50 years old female and 26 to 55 years old male; (iii) they do not have any surviving child (biological, adopted or surrogate); this would not include a child who is mentally or physically challenged or suffers from life threatening disorder or fatal illness.
- Eligibility criteria for surrogate mother: To obtain a certificate of eligibility from the appropriate authority, the surrogate mother has to: (i) be a close relative of the intending couple; (ii) be an ever married woman having a child of her own; (iii) be 25 to 35 years old; (iv) be a surrogate only once in her lifetime; and (iv) possess a certificate of medical and psychological fitness for surrogacy.
- Appropriate authority: The central and state governments shall appoint one or more appropriate authorities within 90 days of the Bill becoming an Act. The functions of the appropriate authority include; (i) granting, suspending or cancelling registration of surrogacy clinics; (ii) enforcing standards for surrogacy clinics; (iii) investigating and taking action against breach of the provisions of the Bill; (iv) recommending modifications to the rules and regulations.
- Registration of surrogacy clinics: Surrogacy clinics cannot undertake surrogacy related procedures unless they are registered by the appropriate authority
- National and State Surrogacy Boards: The central and the state governments shall constitute the National Surrogacy Board (NSB) and the State Surrogacy Boards (SSB), respectively. Functions of the NSB include, (i) advising the central government on policy matters relating to surrogacy; (ii) laying down the code of conduct of surrogacy clinics; and (iii) supervising the functioning of SSBs.
- Offences and penalties: The Bill states the following offences: (i) undertaking or advertising commercial surrogacy; (ii) exploiting the surrogate mother; (iii) abandoning, exploiting or disowning a surrogate child; and (iv) selling or importing human embryo or gametes for surrogacy. These offences will attract a minimum penalty of 10 years and a fine up to 10 lakh rupees.
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