National Current Affairs – UPSC/IAS Exams- 11th June 2019

Big data analytical tools to improve official statistics

Topic: e- Governance

In News: The statistics ministry said on Monday that it proposes to set up a ‘National Data Warehouse’ with a view to leveraging big data analytical tools to further improve the quality of macro-economic aggregates.

More on the Topic:

• Efforts are also on to evolve a legislative framework under which the National Statistical Commission (NSC) may function with independence and give holistic guidance for improving the national statistical system.
• As far as the statistical reforms are concerned, it is important to note that system reforms are an ongoing process and are necessary for ensuring responsiveness to the changing needs of society.
• As in any system, the advent of technology necessitates reforms in statistical processes and products with an aim to synergise the existing resources so that the system remains responsive.

About Big data analytical tools and applications:

• Big data is a term that describes the large volume of data – both structured and unstructured beyond the ability of commonly used software tools to capture, curate, manage, and process data within a tolerable elapsed time.
• It’s what organizations do with the data that matters. Big data can be analyzed for insights that lead to better decisions and strategic business moves.
• Companies use big data to better understand and target customers by bringing together data from their own transactions as well as social media data and even weather predictions.
• Businesses optimize their processes by tracking and analyzing their supply chain delivery routes and combine that data with live traffic updates. Others use machine data to optimize the service cycles of their equipment and predict potential faults.
• Big Data is used in healthcare to find new cures for cancer, to optimize treatment and even predict diseases before any physical symptoms appear.
• Big Data is used to analyze and improve the performance of individuals (at sports, at home or work) where data from sensors in equipment and wearable devices can be combined with video analytics to get insights that traditionally were impossible to see.
• Police forces and security agencies use big data to prevent cyber-attacks, detect credit card fraud, foil terrorism and even predict criminal activity.
• Big Data is used to improve our homes, cities and countries by optimizing the heating or lighting in our homes, the traffic flow in our cities, or the energy grid across the country.

Source: The Hindu

Whistle-Blowers

Topic: Governance

In News: The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has proposed establishing a framework to reward individuals who bring forward instances of violations of insider trading norms while at the same time protecting such persons from victimisation in the form of demotion or termination of job.

More on the Topic:

• The capital markets regulator has proposed that entities that come forward with such information will have to disclose the source of information and give an undertaking that such information has not been sourced from any regulator.
• Further, the regulator has proposed that if such information leads to a final order by SEBI with a minimum disgorgement of Rs. 5 crore, then a monetary award of 10% of the money collected by SEBI, subject to a cap of Rs. 1 crore, can be given to the informant.
• Further, the reward will be paid from the Investor Protection and Education Fund (IPEF). SEBI also plans to establish an Office of Informant Protection, which will be independent of the investigation and inspection wings of the regulatory body.
• While the informant would be required to disclose his or her identity at the time of submission of the complaint in the official format – Voluntary Information Disclosure Form, in SEBI’s parlance an anonymous complaint can also be submitted through an authorised representative who is a practising advocate.
• To protect such complainants against victimisation, the regulator has proposed that all listed companies and intermediaries would include in their code of conduct, provisions to ensure that such individuals are not “discharged, terminated, demoted, suspended, threatened, harassed, or discriminated against, directly or indirectly.”
• While SEBI has also proposed an amnesty for such individuals, it has also stated that if a complaint is found to be frivolous, the regulator can initiate actions against the informant.

About Whistle-blowers:

• A whistleblower is a person, who could be an employee of a company, or a government agency, disclosing information to the public or some higher authority about any wrongdoing, which could be in the form of fraud, corruption, etc.
• To protect whistleblowers from losing their job or getting mistreated there are specific laws. Most companies have a separate policy which clearly states how to report such an incident.
• A whistleblower can file a lawsuit or register a complaint with higher authorities which will trigger a criminal investigation against the company or any individual department.
• There are two types of whistleblowers: internal and external. Internal whistleblowers are those who report the misconduct, fraud, or indiscipline to senior officers of the organisation such as Head Human Resource or CEO.
• External whistleblowing is a term used when whistleblowers report the wrongdoings to people outside the organisation such as the media, higher government officials, or police.

Model Mains Question: Critically analyse the whistle blower’s protection act .

Source: The Hindu

President’s Rule

Topic: Polity and Governance

In News: West Bengal Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, who met Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday, said no discussion was held to impose President’s Rule in the State. Mr. Tripathi, who also met Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said he apprised them of the prevailing situation in the State, where more than a dozen people have been killed after the results of the Lok Sabha election were announced.

More on the topic:

• Every time a state loses its ability to function as per the Constitution, it comes under the direct control of the central government, which is referred as the President’s rule.
• On the ground level, the responsibility of the state administration is shifted to the Governor. The President’s rule, which is also known as the state emergency, had been imposed time and again in different states for varied reasons.
• One of the most common reasons for the imposition of such a rule is the breakdown of a coalition. Failure of the state legislature to elect a leader as Chief Minister is also a prime cause for this kind of arrangement.
• In some cases it has been observed that the President’s rule was brought into effect since Assembly elections were postponed for unavoidable reasons. Such a rule is also imposed at times when the security of the state is threatened either by external aggression or internal disturbances.
• The President relies on the report of the Governor of the concerned state and other sources to arrive at a decision. It is to be noted that Parliament must approve such an arrangement within two months of its coming into effect.
• Generally, President’s rule is imposed for six months. However, the duration can be extended to three years by getting parliamentary approval every six months. There had been exceptional cases in the past wherein the state emergency was extended for more than three years. For such cases, a constitutional amendment is needed.
• Till the time President’s rule is in effect, the Parliament makes laws on the 66 subjects of the state list (subjects on which the state governments can make laws). Moreover, it’s the Parliament that needs to approve all money bills during the state emergency.

Source: The Hindu

Iran has accelerated uranium enrichment

Topic: International Affairs

In News: IAEA said that Iran has followed through on a threat to accelerate its production of enriched uranium.

More on the Topic:

• Recent weeks have seen S.-Iranian confrontation sharply increase, a year after Washington abandoned an agreement between Iran and world powers to curb Tehran’s nuclear programme in exchange for the lifting of international financial sanctions.
• Washington tightened sanctions from the start of May, ordering all countries and companies to halt all imports of Iranian oil or be banished from the global financial system.
• It has also begun discussing military confrontation, dispatching extra troops to the region to counter what it describes as Iranian threats.
• Iran has responded with a threat to increase its enrichment of uranium, saying it was up to Europeans who still support the nuclear deal to save it by finding ways to ensure Tehran receives the economic benefits it was promised.
• France, Britain and Germany have set up a special-purpose vehicle called Instex, designed to allow payments to Iran that would legally bypass sanctions. It has yet to be launched.
• Washington has denounced the European plans. Diplomats say the system is unlikely to have much impact on commercial trade with Iran but could be used for humanitarian transactions that are permitted under U.S. sanctions.
• Washington says the nuclear deal should be expanded to cover other issues including Iran’s missile programme and its role in wars in the region. European countries say they share those concerns, although they argue that it would be harder to address them without the nuclear deal in place.

About Enriched Uranium:

• Enriched uranium is a type of uranium in which the percent composition of uranium-235 has been increased through the process of isotope separation.
• Natural uranium is 99.284% 238U isotope, with 235U only constituting about 0.711% of its mass. 235U is the only nuclide existing in nature (in any appreciable amount) that is fissile with thermal neutrons.
• Enriched uranium is a critical component for both civil nuclear power generation and military nuclear weapons.
• The International Atomic Energy Agency attempts to monitor and control enriched uranium supplies and processes in its efforts to ensure nuclear power generation safety and curb nuclear weapons proliferation.

Source: The Hindu

Mela Kheer Bhawani

Topic: Art and Culture

In News: Hundreds of devotees  arrived at the temple of Mata Ragnya Devi at Tulmulla, one of the holiest shrines of Kashmiri Pandits, in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district to celebrate the annual festival of Kheer Bhawani. The devotees were impressed with the cheerful welcome by the local Muslims.

More on the Topic:

• Kheer Bhawani/Ksheer Bhawani is a temple dedicated to the Goddess Kheer Bhavani (originally just Bhawani) constructed over a sacred spring.
• The worship of Kheer Bhawani is universal among the Hindus of Kashmir. The temple is situated at a distance of 14 miles east of Srinagar near the village of Tul Mul.
• The term kheer refers to rice pudding that is offered in the spring to propitiate the Goddess, which became part of the name of the temple.
• As is the custom with Hindu deities, she has many names: Maharagya Devi, Ragnya Devi, Rajni, Ragnya Bhagwati, and so on.

Source: The Hindu

National Integration Tour

Topic: Government Policies

In News: A group of 140 students, comprising 20 students from Ramban, Reasi & Rajouri and 120 students from Baramulla accompanied by four teachers on a national integration tour visited New Delhi. The group interacted with General Bipin Rawat, Chief of the Army Staff.

More on the Topic:

• The national integration tours are educational and motivational tours for the youth of Jammu & Kashmir and North Eastern states, with an aim to provide an insight into the rich heritage of the country as well as various developmental and industrial initiatives that are underway.
• This initiative exposes them to various career options and enables them to interact with renowned personalities.
• The National Integration Tour has been initiated as part of the Indian Army’s ongoing outreach programme to foster the spirit of National Integration across the entire swathe of the country.

Source: The Hindu