CURRENT AFFAIRS

(18th to 24th Jan 2016)

GNXX CALC X03X EN16

THE NATION
INDIA REDUCES CARBON EMISSION INTENSITY BY 12% IN 5 YEARS (2005-2010)
WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?
As per the provisions of UNFCCC, developed and developing countries need to periodically provide information in the form of their National
Communications.
DEVELOPING COUNTRIES
To submit, Biennial Update Report
(BUR)
Once in 2 years
It is subjected to an international
process of International Consultation
and Analysis (ICA)

Countries need to provide

information in the form of their
National Communication.
Paris Climate Agreement was
reached by 195 countries in
December, 2015.

DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
To submit Biennial Report (BR)
Once in 2 years
It is subjected to International Analysis &
Review (IAR)

FIRST BIENNIAL UPDATE REPORT (BUR)

As per the INDCs submitted by India, India is
to reduce Carbon emission intensity per
unit of GDP by 20-25% by 2020 and 3335% by 2030 from the levels of 2005.

SALIENT POINTS

India reduced Carbon emission intensity per unit of GDP by 12% within 5 years.
India submitted its first Biennial Update Report (BUR) to UNFCCC.
India emitted 2,136.84 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent of green house gases in 2010.
Indias per capita GHG emissions in 2010 was 1.56 tonnes of CO2, which is one third of the Worlds per capita emissions.
China, the worlds largest emitter is yet to submit its BUR.

CONTRIBUTORS FOR CARBON EMISSIONS IN INDIA

Industrial
Processes
and Product
Use
8%
Agriculture
Sector
18%

Waste Sector
3%

NOTE
Energy sector includes electricity
production and fuel combustion
in industries and transport.

Energy
Sector
71%

UNION CABINET APPROVES MAJOR CHANGES TO POWER TARIFF POLICY

1
Power companies are allowed to pass
costs on to consumers arising out of any
changes in taxes, cesses and levies
levied on them.

2
Power generators can sell their surplus
power on the power exchange and share
the proceeds with the State
Governments.

3
Power to be provided to remote
unconnected villages through micro
grids with provision for purchase of
power into the grid as and when the grid
reaches there.

4
Under Renewable Generation
Obligation (RGO), new coal / lignite
based thermal plants to establish /
procure / purchase renewable capacity.

5
Under Renewable Power Obligation (RPO), 8% of electricity consumption
excluding hydro power, shall be from solar energy by March 2022.
For the first time, comprehensive amendments have been made in the Power Tariff Policy of 2006.
Amendments are based on 4Es Electricity for all, Efficiency that will ensure affordable tariffs, Environment & Ease of Doing
Business as stated by the Minister.

OTHER MAJOR CABINET DECISIONS

1. Rs. 5,050 crore of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) for 5,000 MW of grid-connected solar projects. This will be done in four tranches over a
period of 4 years. This is under JNNSM.
2. Post-facto approval for the stance taken by India at Nairobi WTO meet. India will phase out transportation and marketing subsidies for
exporting agricultural products by 2023.
3. Market Development Assistance of Rs. 1,500 per tonne on city compost. It will lower MRP of city compost for farmers. Compost from city
garbage will not only give carbon and other nutrients to soil and also keep the city clean.
Fertilizer companies and marketing companies will co-market city compost with chemical fertilizers.
This will reduce the volume of waste to land fill and also prevent production of harmful GHGs & toxic materials.
CENTER DECLASSIFIES 100 FILES OF NETAJI SUBHAS CHANDRA BOSE
The Prime Minister released the first set of 100 files on 23rd January.
He declassified at the National Archives of India in the presence of the members of Bose family.
But, this declassification may not put an end to the theory that Netaji lived subsequent to 1945.

rd

Born on 23 Jan. 1897 at Cuttack.

During 2015, West Bengal Govt.
declassified 64 files.
Under Official Secret Act 1923,
files can be kept secret.
No new evidence to suggest Netaji
survived plane crash in 1945.

ISRO LAUNCHES FIFTH GPS SATELLITE

ISRO launched IRNSS-1E.

IRNSS-1E has a mission life of 12 yrs.
It is the fifth of the seven satellites of Indian Regional Navigation Satellite System (IRNSS).
It is ISROs first launch during 2016.
PSLV C-31 lifted the 1,425 kg satellite from Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota.
IRNSS-1E carried navigation and ranging payloads including a rubidium atomic clock, c-band transponder, and Corner Cube Retro
Reflectors for laser ranging.
It is designed to provide accurate position information service to users in India and the region extending up to 1,500 kms.
SUICIDE OF RESEARCH SCHOLAR
UNANSWERED QUESTION
Are the educational institutions functioning with the core tenets of Independence and Autonomy?
NATIONAL FAMILY HEALTH SURVEY - 4
1
Stunted children below the age of 5 reduced from
42% to 37%. Bihar and Madhya Pradesh are worst
off with 48% & 42% respectively.

2
Under weight children below the age of 5 reduced
from 39% to 34%. This is not satisfactory. Nutrition
and Health for All should become a priority. Again
Bihar & M.P. are worst effected.

3
Marked improvement in Literacy rates. % of
women, who are literate in 15-49 age group
increased from 37% to 50% in Bihar, 60% to 75%
in Haryana and 44% to 59% in M.P.

4
Marked improvement in age of marriage for girls. %
of women in 20-24 age group, who are married before
18 years came down from 60% to 39% in Bihar, 40%
to 19% in Haryana, 53% to 30% in M.P.

5
In Andhra Pradesh, 45.6% of total women surveyed
in urban areas are found to be over weight, the
highest in the country.

6
Overall, the obesity in men went up from 10.35% to
18.04% and in women from 13.92% to 19.56%.

7
People suffering from hypertension are more in
rural India than in urban India.

8
82% women and 70% men lack comprehensive
knowledge of HIV / AIDS.

First NFHS was held in 1992-93.

Previous National Family Health Survey was held in 2005-06 and now this is the fourth one.
Now figures are available for comparison after 10 years.
Indicators for female health, literacy, financial means and age of marriage have shown substantial
improvements.
Data released for 13 States & 2 UTs.
Complete data will be available by Sept, 2016.

SCHEDULED CASTES AND SCHEDULED TRIBES (PREVENTION OF ATROCITIES) AMENDMENT ACT, 2015 FROM
26th JAN 2016
The new offences brought under this Act include:
Tonsuring of head or similar acts which are derogatory to the dignity of SCs & STs
Garlanding with chappals
The original Act dealing with atrocities
Using or permitting manual scavenging
is Act no. 33 of 1989.
Abusing in caste name
Imposing social or economic boycott
For expeditious disposal of cases, exclusive special courts will be established.
For public servants, it also defined wilful negligence and dereliction of duty.

AROUND THE WORLD

NEPAL AMENDS THE CONSTITUTION BUT MADHESIS ARE NOT HAPPY
CHANGES MADE THROUGH
AMENDMENTS

WHAT COULD NOT BE DONE

1. Proportional representation
2. More inclusive social justice
3. Allocation of parliament seats on the basis
of population

Creating two provinces for Madhesi people

on the 1,200-km-long southern plains of
Nepal bordering India.

ATTACK ON BACHA KHAN UNIVERSITY

LESSONS TO BE LEARNT BY PAKISTAN
1
Address the issue of poverty and
lawlessness in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
Province (NWFP) as it is the fertile ground
for the recruitment of Jihadists.

2
Dual policy of plans to control TTP and at the
same time using Afghan Taliban & LeT for
their strategic gains across the border will not
help and will further deteriorate the situation.

3
Have better coordination between civilian
Govt. and the Army.

4
Join regional powers to control terrorism, as
terrorism is no more restricted to any country
and province and it is a global problem.

ECONOMY & BANKING

NORMS LIBERALISED FOR GOLD MONETISATION SCHEME
It now allows premature redemption after three years and five years for Medium Term (MTGD) and Long Term deposits (LTGD)
respectively. However, for premature redemption, interest payable will be reduced.
Quantity will be expressed up to three decimal points of a gram.
Now the gold can be directly deposited with refiner, rather than only through Collection And Purity Testing Centres (CPTCs).
Banks will be paid 2.5% commission for medium term and long term deposits.
It is to bring out gold held by Indians.
So as to reduce gold imports, in turn
to reduce CAD.
Govt. so far collected 900 kgs of gold.
MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS FROM CHINA PANIC ACROSS THE WORLD
1
GDP growth in 2015 at 6.9% is the slowest
in 25 years. However, rail freight,
electricity usage points to much lesser
growth. Moreover, for the next 2 years,
growth is projected at 6.3% and 6%.

2
Stock prices contracted 50% from the levels of
May-June 2015, capital flight of $ 600 bn took
place during the past 6 months.

3
Millions of houses are lying vacant.
Decline in housing prices, stocks may lead
to more layoffs, bankruptcies. China
already suffering from excess capacity.

4
The growth model based on exports and
competitive wages almost coming to an end.

Xi Jinping President, China

For the past 25 years, the growth
model was based on capital
investments, savings & exports.
Now, it is transitioning to innovation,
services & consumption led model.