National Current Affairs – UPSC/IAS Exams- 18th September 2019

by Mentors4ias · September 18, 2019

Liberalised Remittance Scheme

Topic: Economy

In News: Indians sent more money out of the country than ever before in July 2019 under the liberalised remittance scheme (LRS), in a development that comes even as the government looks to attract foreign direct and portfolio investment.

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This is the scheme of the Reserve Bank of India, introduced in the year 2004.
Under the LRS initiative, all resident Indian individuals, including minors, are freely allowed to transfer up to a quarter million dollars ($250,000) per financial year for any permissible current or capital account transactions.
The current account transactions can include spending money on “maintenance of close relatives” or for travel, education and medical purposes. Money can also be remitted abroad to family members as “gifts”.
Remittances can also transferred for capital account transactions, money that can be used to open a foreign currency account overseas with a bank, purchase of property and making investments in mutual funds or venture capital funds.

Reasons for Outflow of the Money:

It is possible that Indians wanted to remit more money outside the country, but were unable to do so(Because of restrictions) and may have indeed been doing it in other ways.
Fund managers and investment experts believe that the outflow of funds under the LRS scheme is a sign of flight of capital. Or, put simply, many small and mid-sized businessmen are leaving India for various reasons to set up base in places like Singapore or Dubai.
Another unlikely possibility is that LSR is used to avoid paying taxes in India on funds transferred abroad via the scheme by gifting funds and thereby diverting income earned on those funds to non-residents.

Source: The Wire

National Recruitment Agency

Topic: Polity and Governance

In News: A new National Recruitment Agency (NRA) will be set up to conduct the Common Eligibility Test (CET) for all these competitive examinations, in which an estimated 2.5 crore candidates appear annually.

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The proposed NRA will conduct preliminary examinations for all these recruitment, which are at present conducted by the Staff Selection Commission (SSC) and the Institute of Banking Personnel Selection (IBPS).
The NRA will subsequently forward the list of qualifying candidates to the respective recruiting agencies to conduct the mains examinations.

Why a new agency is proposed:

The proposal for a new agency is meant to streamline recruitment process on subordinate-rank posts in the government.
The proposed NRA is expected to reduce the burden of SSC and the IBPS, among others, from holding preliminary recruitment exams, which is an extensive exercise.
Once up and running, NRA will work as a preliminary single-window agency to shortlist qualifying candidates from bulk of applicants and forward the list to SSC, IBPS, etc, to hold the mains.
The basic idea behind this proposal is to shortlist qualifying candidates through a Common Eligibility Test before sending them for the mains examination.

Source: Indian Express

Astra Missile

Topic: Science and Technology

In News: ASTRA the first indigenously developed air-to-air missile was successfully flight-tested off the coast of Odisha.

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The Astra missile is developed by Defence Research and Development Organization (DRDO).
It works on the Beyond Visual Range Air-to-Air Missile (BVRAAM) technology that enables the fighter-pilots to shoot precisely at the enemy targets which are beyond their visual range.
Electronic Counter-Countermeasures or ECCM feature enables Astra missile to overcome defensive measures put forth for the target by the enemy.
Another deadly feature of this missile is the option to choose between “Lock-on Before Launch – LOBL” and “Lock-on After Launch – LOAL”
Lock-on After Launch option allows the fighter aircraft to safely shoot and scoot after launching the missile towards the target.
Astra is extremely effective in a multi-target scenario and therefore, has been described as the most potent weapon system for IAF’s combat aircraft.
Speed: over 5,555 km/hour or 4.5 mach
Range: over 70 km,
Payload/warhead capacity: 15 kg.

Source: PIB

India’s Cooling Action Plan

Topic: Environment and Ecology

In News: National Cooling Action Plans has been recognized by the United Nations Secretary General, Mr António Guterres in his message on World Ozone day 2019 where the need for all countries to develop national cooling action plans has been highlighted.

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ICAP has been appreciated internationally as an important policy initiative which has the potential to provide socio-economic and environmental benefits related to reduced refrigerant use, climate change mitigation and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The Environment Ministry has constituted the Steering Committee and Thematic Working Groups for providing the modalities for operationalization of the recommendations.

The India Cooling Action seeks to:

Reduce cooling demand across sectors by 20% to 25% by 2037-38
Reduce refrigerant demand by 25% to 30% by 2037-38
Reduce cooling energy requirements by 25% to 40% by 2037-38
Recognize “cooling and related areas” as a thrust area of research under national S&T Programme
Training and certification of 100,000 servicing sector technicians by 2022-23, synergizing with Skill India Mission.
ICAP recommends synergies with ongoing government programmes and schemes such as Housing for All, the Smart Cities Mission, Doubling Farmers Income and Skill India Mission, in order to maximize socio-economic co-benefits.

The objectives of the India Cooling Action Plan:

Assessment of cooling requirements across sectors in next 20 years and the associated refrigerant demand and energy use.
Map the technologies available to cater the cooling requirement including passive interventions, refrigerant-based technologies and alternative technologies such as not-in-kind technologies.
Suggest interventions in each sector to provide for sustainable cooling and thermal comfort for all.
Focus on skilling of RAC service technicians.
Develop an R&D innovation ecosystem for indigenous development of alternative technologies.

Benefits to society over and above the environmental benefits:

Thermal comfort for all provision for cooling for EWS and LIG housing.
Sustainable cooling low GHG emissions related to cooling.
Doubling Farmers Income better cold chain infrastructure, better value of products to farmers, less wastage of produce.
Skilled workforce for better livelihoods and environmental protection.
Make in India domestic manufacturing of air-conditioning and related cooling equipment’s.

Model Mains Question: Analyse India’s Cooling Action Plan and its environmental and societal benefits?

Source: PIB and India education diary

Banni Grasslands

Topic: Environment and Ecology

In News: The ‘Banni Grasslands’ in Kutch, Gujarat, span over 2,600 square kilometres is under threat due to an exotic species called Prosopis Juliflora.

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In the 1960s, the government wanted to protect this region from salinity ingress from the Rann of Kutch. So it dropped millions of seeds of an exotic species called Prosopis Juliflora from helicopters.
Since then, ‘Prosopis Juliflora’ has overtaken the native grasses in the area. It does not let anything else grow.
The problem of salinity has also multiplied several times, and the Maldharis(native pastoral community) are faced with a perpetual fodder crisis.
The area under the ‘Prosopis Juliflora’ was only 6% till 1997 but it increased to 54% in 2015.
Generally, this area gets about 400 millimetres of rainfall.But for the last 2 years, there has been hardly any rain, and the region is facing a drought-like situation.
Because this tree sucks up all the water from the soil, it is also leading to land degradation and desertification.
Gujarat has lost more than 50% of its area to desertification.

Source: Down to Earth

Godavari boat Tragedy

Topic: Disaster Management

In News: A boat capsizes in the Godavari leaving many dead and missing. Andhra Pradesh is experiencing a familiar ring of boat tragedies in the recent past.

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The private operator took on board over 70 tourists who were hoping to see the scenic beauty of Papikondalu.
The operator ventured into the river that has been in spate for days, without any permission.
The inexperienced crew could not cope with a sudden current of water at Kachuluru, one of the most dangerous spots enroute.
The boat tilted and capsized within minutes and only those wearing life jackets could save themselves.

How these Tragedies can be Avoided:

Having only experienced crew with valid licences
Provision of life jackets for all
Not setting out when the river is in full flow

Administrative Reforms Needed:

There is a need to integrate multiple departments concerned ranging from irrigation to director of ports with permitting rides and monitoring and checking illegal ones.
Lack of coordination can be seen in the present accident, There is need for proper co-ordination mechanism. Eg: When the river touches the danger mark, the irrigation department should send out a warning to all concerned not to allow any rides.
The citizen should be aware of the safety mechanisms and must demand for them before starting the journey.(Ex: Life Jackets) There is need to publicize various safety measures.

Source: The Hindu