National Current Affairs – UPSC/KAS Exams- 15th December 2018
India Post launches e-com portal
Topic: e-Governance
IN NEWS: India Post on Friday launched its own e-commerce website to help sellers, particularly rural artisans and SHGs sell their products across the country.
More on the Topic:
- The small and local sellers, who have been left behind in e-commerce space, will now be able to maximise their reach and retailing power by leveraging the vast physical and lT network of the Department of Posts
- The products will be shipped through Speed Post.
- India Post is open for registration of all vendors for e-commerce business. It will pick up products from vendor and deliver to doorstep of customers.
Source: The Hindu
Oxytocin
Topic: Health
IN NEWS: The Delhi High Court on Friday quashed the Centre’s decision to ban the manufacture and sale of Oxytocin, a drug which induces labour and controls bleeding during child birth, by private firms.
More on the Topic:
- The risk of non-availability of oxytocin can lead to drastic consequences, the scarcity of the drug, or even a restricted availability can cause increase in maternal fatalities, during childbirth, impairing lives of thousands of innocent young mothers.
- Oxytocin is a hormone and a neurotransmitter that is involved in childbirth and breast-feeding.
Why its sale is being limited:
- The drug is used by diary owners and farmers to boost milk production and make vegetables look bigger and freshe But, it was found that indiscriminate use of Oxytocin in milch animals and by farmers was causing irreversible hormone damage.
Source:The Hindu
Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY)
Topic: Government Policies
In news: As per data uploaded by banks, the number of persons enrolled under Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana (PMSBY) is 14.27 Crores.
More on the Topic:
- Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojna (PMSBY) is an insurance scheme covering accidental death risk of Rs.2 Lakh for a premium of just Rs. 12 per year (i.e. Rs 1/month as premium). It will cover all the savings account holders of the age group 18 to 70 for accidental disability or death.
- Under PMSBY, the risk coverage will be Rs. 2 lakh for accidental death and full disability and Rs. 1 lakh for partial disability.
- Public sector general insurance companies or other general insurance companies that are willing to offer insurance coverage to individuals on similar terms would offer and administer this scheme. The scheme is delivered through banks including regional rural banks as well as cooperative banks.
- This Scheme is different from the Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana (PMJJBY) , which cover both natural and accidental death risk of Rs. 2 lakh for a premium of Rs. 330 per year for the age group of 18-50 (less than Rs. 1/day).
Source: The Hindu
J&K law to stop ‘sextortion’ of women
Topic: Government Policies
In news: Jammu & Kashmir Governor approved an amendment to the Ranbir Penal Code (RPC), to insert a section to provide for the offence of “sextortion.”
More on the Topic:
- Under new amendment of the RPC, the new law explicitly bans sexual exploitation of women by those in positions of authority, having a fiduciary relationship, or a public servant.
- J&K has become the first State in the country to bring a law to prevent people in power from exploiting subordinates sexually.
Why this Law:
- The existing legislative provisions have been found deficient to curb this menace. Therefore, a need was felt to introduce such provisions in the relevant laws that would prevent occurrence of such instances and deter the persons in authority to abuse their authority, influence or position to obtain sexual favours from the weaker sex.
- Besides, the State Administrative Council (SAC) also approved introduction of the use of video conferencing “as an admissible method for presence of accused in criminal trials.
Ranbir Penal Code:
- Jammu and Kashmir State Ranbir Penal Code or RPC is a criminal code applicable in Jammu and Kashmir. Indian Penal Code is not applicable here under Article 370 of the Indian constitution. The code was introduced during the reign ofDogra dynasty with Ranbir Singh as its ruler.
Source: The Hindu
Women Transforming India Awards
Topic: Awards and Honours
In news: Government think-tank NITI Aayog will organise the 3rd edition of the Women Transforming India Awards 2018 and launch the upgraded portal of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform.
More on the Topic:
- The awards were instituted to recognise and celebrate stories of exemplary women from across India.
- This year’s theme is ‘Women and Entrepreneurship’ and 15 winners have been chosen through an extensive six-month long process to identify fascinating and inspiring stories of women entrepreneurs.
Source:The Hindu
Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT)
Topic: Institutions In News
In news: Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) has rejected TRAI’s order that had changed the definition of ‘significant market power’ (SMP) to identify predatory pricing, offering substantial relief to India’s older telcos.
More on the Topic:
- The Telecom Disputes Settlement & Appellate Tribunal (TDSAT) also set aside a rule in the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai) predatory pricing regulation that required top telcos to report all tariffs in the interests of transparency and non-discrimination.
About TDSAT:
- In order to bring in functional clarity and strengthen the regulatory framework and the disputes settlement mechanism in the telecommunication sector, the TRAI Act of 1997 was amended in the year 2000 and TDSAT was set up to adjudicate disputes and dispose of appeals with a view to protect the interests of service providers and consumers of the telecom sector.
- In January 2004, the Government included broadcasting and cable services also within the purview of TRAI Act. The jurisdiction of TDSAT stands extended to matters that lay before the Cyber Appellate Tribunal and also the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal.
- The Tribunal exercises jurisdiction over Telecom, Broadcasting, IT and Airport tariff matters under the TRAI Act, 1997 (as amended), the Information Technology Act, 2008 and the Airport Economic Regulatory Authority of India Act, 2008.
- The Tribunal exercises original as well as appellate jurisdiction in regard to Telecom, Broadcasting and Airport tariff matters. In regard to Cyber matters the Tribunal exercises only the appellate jurisdiction.
Source: The Hindu
