National Current Affairs – UPSC/KAS Exams- 24th November 2018

Jallianwalla Bagh massacre

Topic: Modern Indian History

IN NEWS: Government of India has decided to mark the remembrance of 100 years of the historical Jallianwalla Bagh Massacre next year. The commemorative coin and postage stamps will be released on 13th April, 2019 (the day the incident took place 100 years ago).Ministry of Culture will organise cultural activities such as kavi sammelan, plays, exhibition, seminars, etc. across the country.

Rowlatt Act:

• Officially known as the Anarchical and Revolutionary Crimes Act, 1919.Passed in March 1919 by the Imperial Legislative Council.
• This act authorised the British government to arrest anybody suspected of terrorist activities.It also authorised the government to detain such people arrested for up to 2 years without trial.
• It empowered the police to search a place without a warrant.It also placed severe restrictions on the freedom of the press.
• The act was passed despite unanimous opposition from the Indian members of the council, all of whom resigned in protest. These included Mohammed Ali Jinnah, Madan Mohan Malviya and Mazhar Ul Haq.
• Two popular Congress leaders Satya Pal and Saifuddin Kitchlew were arrested.

Jallianwalla Bagh massacre:

• The situation in Punjab was alarming as there were riots and protests against the Rowlatt Act.
• Punjab was put under martial law which meant that it became unlawful for more than 4 people to assemble at a place.
• The Lieutenant-Governor of Punjab at that time was Michael O’Dwyer. Lord Chelmsford was India’s Viceroy.
• On the day of the festival of Baisakhi on 13th April 1919 in Jallianwala Bagh, a public garden in Amritsar, a crowd of non-violent protestors had gathered. Also among the crowd were pilgrims who had come to celebrate Baisakhi.General Dyer came there with his troops and blocked the only narrow entrance to the garden.
• Then, without warning, he ordered his troops to fire at the unarmed crowd which included children as well.
• The indiscriminate firing went on for about 10 minutes which resulted in the deaths of at least 1000 people and injured more than 1500 people.
• This tragedy came as a rude shock to Indians and totally destroyed their faith in the British system of justice.National leaders condemned the act and Dyer unequivocally.
• However, Dyer was appreciated by many in Britain and the British in India although some people in the British government were quick to criticise it.

Source:The Hindu

Lunar lander faces crucial test

Topic: Science and Technology

IN NEWS: The Chandrayaan-2 lunar lander’s sensors are set to undergo a crucial test in the next few days as the mission races towards a planned take-off in around two months.

More on the Topic:

• The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans to fly the sensors on an aircraft over its artificial lunar site at Challakere to see how they will function and guide the Chandrayaan-2 landing craft when it starts descending on the lunar terrain.

Chandrayaan-2 Mission:

• Chandrayaan-2 is India’s second lunar exploration mission after Chandrayaan-1.Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), the mission is planned to be launched to the Moon by a Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark III (GSLV Mk III). It includes a lunar orbiter, lander and rover, all developed by India.
• If successful, Chandrayaan-2 will be the first-ever mission to land a rover near the lunar south pole.
• According to ISRO, this mission will use and test various new technologies and conduct new experiments. The wheeled rover will move on the lunar surface and will perform on-site chemical analysis. The data will be relayed to Earth through the Chandrayaan-2 orbiter.

Source:The Hindu

SHe-Box

Topic: Polity and Governance

In news: The Ministry of Women and Child Development has linked SHe-Box, the online portal to report complaints of Sexual Harassment at Workplace, to all the Central Ministries, Departments and 653 districts across 33 States/Union Territories.

More on the Topic:

Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act , 2013:

• The Government of India (GoI) has enacted the Protection of Women from Sexual Harassment at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act (the SH Act), 2013 with the objective to create a safe and secure workplace for women free from sexual harassment.
• This Act caters to women working both in organised and unorganised sector and establishes a redressal mechanism for the disposal of their complaints.

Sexual Harassment electronic Box:

• This Sexual Harassment electronic Box (SHe-Box) is an effort of GoI to provide a single window access to every woman, irrespective of her work status, whether working in organised or unorganised, private or public sector, to facilitate the registration of complaint related to sexual harassment.
• Any woman facing sexual harassment at workplace can register their complaint through this portal. Once a complaint is submitted to the ‘SHe-Box’, it will be directly sent to the concerned authority having jurisdiction to take action into the matter.

Source: The Hindu

Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2018

Topic: Government Policies

In news: The Union Cabinet has approved the Allied and Healthcare Professions Bill, 2018 for regulation and standardisation of education and services by allied and healthcare professionals.

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• An Interim Council will be constituted within six months of the passing of the Act holding charge for a period of two years until the establishment of the Central Council.
• The Central Council will comprise 47 members, of which 14 members shall be ex-officio representing diverse and related roles and functions and remaining 33 shall be non-ex-officio members who mainly represent the 15 professional categories.
• The Bill provides for setting up of an Allied and Healthcare Council of India and corresponding State Allied and Healthcare Councils which will play the role of a standard-setter and facilitator for professions of Allied and Healthcare. The Bill has clauses for Offences and Penalties to check malpractices.

Significance:

• The Bill will provide an opportunity to create qualified, highly skilled and competent jobs in healthcare by enabling professionalism of the allied and healthcare workforce.
• High quality, multi-disciplinary care in line with the vision of Ayushman Bharat, moving away from a ‘doctor led’ model to a ‘care accessible and team-based’ model.

Source:PIB

“Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS)”

Topic: Government Schemes

In news: The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs has approved continuation of the nine sub-schemes of the umbrella scheme “Atmosphere & Climate Research-Modelling Observing Systems & Services (ACROSS)” during 2017-2020 at an estimated cost of Rs 1,450 crore.

More on the Topic:

• The scheme will be implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences through its institutes namely India Meteorological Department (IMD), Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), National Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasting (NCMRWF), and Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Service(INCOIS).
• ACROSS scheme pertains to the atmospheric science programs of the Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES).
• It addresses different aspects of weather and climate services, which includes warnings for cyclone, storm surges, heat waves, thunderstorms etc.
• Each of these aspects is incorporated as nine sub-schemes under the umbrella scheme “ACROSS” and is implemented in an integrated.
• The ACROSS scheme consists of nine sub-programmes which are multi disciplinary and multi institutional in nature and will be implemented in an integrated manner.
• As the objective of the ACROSS scheme is to provide a reliable weather and climate forecast for betterment of society, the scheme will aim at improving skill of weather and climate forecast through sustained observations, intensive R & D.

Benefits of the scheme:

• The scheme will provide improved weather, climate and ocean forecast and services, thereby ensuring transfer of commensurate benefits to the various services like Public weather service, disaster management, Agro-meteorological Services, Aviation services, Environmental monitoring services, Hydro-meteorological services, climate services, tourism, pilgrimage, power generation, water management, Sports and adventure.

Source:The Hindu

World’s Oldest Rock Art

Topic: Art and Culture

In news:Australian Scientists have recently found the world’s oldest figurative art in a cave in Indonesia.

More on the Topic:

• The cave art on the island of Sulawesi is estimated to be about 40,000 years old.
• This discovery challenges the idea that the oldest artwork had originated in Spain and France.
• There is a theory that human capacity for abstract thinking originated in Europe, but the new discovery makes the case that this development was occurring in Asia at the same time.

Source:The Hindu

Indira Gandhi Peace Prize

Topic: Awards and Honours

In news:Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) was awarded this year’s Indira Gandhi peace prize.

More on the Topic:

• Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is the prestigious award accorded annually by Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust.
• Individuals or organisations in recognition of efforts towards promoting international peace, development and a new international economic order, scientific discoveries used for the larger good of humanity and enlarging the scope of freedom will be awarded.

Centre for Science and Environment:

• CSE is an Environmental NGO and a public interest research and advocacy organisation based in New Delhi.
• It was awarded for its pioneering work in the field of environmental education and protection and also for keeping the issue of environmental sustainability at the forefront of national attention and public policy.

Source:The Hindu